Another chapter? oh my lets get these boring plans out the way shall we?
Thank you for the amazing reviews guys! much appreciated! This story is much different from the show, although I am working with the anime's timeline-ish this story is revolved around a single paring, with some cuteness thrown in the mix via Ino and Sai cause they are just too cute hehe (Wait till you see their chapter XD)
For those curious about my story of The Wind and Clouds I hope to get the chapter in soon.
Working on chapter 8 as we read, now lets all enjoy our beautiful wind Goddess
Music I listed to making this -Montero Lil Nas- literally that one song for hours and its currently 6:09 am
The heat of the early morning sun in the desert surpassed that of the Land of Fire on its hottest day. The front-line camp of the Sand nestled near a cliff edge the area around nothing but rocks, sand, and scorpions as Kankuro would put it. Over the edge a small dry ravine that led to nothing but a crack in the imperfect ground. Above the dry landscape an oasis, small, crowded with the awaiting troops of Suna. Mighty men and women serious as the deadly desert around them, well most at least.
"Yukata hurry up" Matsuri called carefully lifting the sandstone tea pot from the small fire sitting by the clear water and blew at the hand she had burnt earlier while starting it. Yukata rushed to her side steadying teacups in her arms as she fell in pace with her companion "Lady Temari is waiting for us" she whispered gravely.
"Sorry I couldn't find the cups" she muttered nervously eyes focused on the opened tent at the edge of camp they were walking to. Matsuri stumbled with her pot for a second and quickly corrected her feet as they made it to the tent peeking into it at small table set aside with a golden-haired woman kneeling before it focused on a scroll in her arm. Elegant in her short satin kimono, gaze soft as she read the painted words, a goddess as they would call her full of beauty and wrath. Her hand reached up, black silk sleeve slipping down to her elbow, as she curled her loose hair behind her ear her other waving a small fan to brush away the morning heat.
"Lady Temari?" Matsuri called in her voice meek for a second as she stared. The woman didn't flinch at the sudden interruption and simply moved the scroll down her arm to the next passage her voice one of power when she spoke.
"Close the blinds when you come in" Temari ordered her eyes never leaving the scroll. Matsuri stepped in while Yukata balanced the teacups in one hand and unclipped the golden sashes to the tent and shut them, enveloping the room in a dim light. Matsuri quickly moved over and set the teapot down the steam from the hot drink escaping at the tip. "Sit ladies" she hummed softer leaning back slowly setting her small fan aside and rolling the scroll up before meeting the eyes of the two before her. "Thank you for the tea it was very kind of you to offer" she smiled lightly the beauty seeping through her delicate turned lips, the two beamed at her kneeling side by side while Yukata set the cups down and lifted the tea pouring quietly.
"Are you going to talk to us about our role in the battle?" Matsuri leaned in smiling. Temari smirked lightly shaking her head.
"No, I was going to ask how you're training with Baki went, seeing as I've been busy with other affairs" Temari glanced down to her tea as Yukata slid it to her, and lifted it gingerly with two hands "I'd have preferred to train the chunin myself but it's not possible right now with things being so hectic" She took a short sip.
"Baki Sensai is a great teacher, a little rough, but he's no Temari though" Yukata joked chuckling with Matsuri when Temari bit back her grin amused.
"Now be nice, Baki is my sensei after all, and besides you both know I'm less forgiving when you mess up" The quieted and nodded as she set her cup down and sighed resting her chin on her palm her loose robes slipping open slightly in the front relieving the soft slit in her chest. "As you both know we have Leaf commanders entering camp today" They nodded in unison "The troops know to not attack or engage them, as for you two I expect you to treat them as you treat me and Kankuro" She pulled back straightening "Gaara wants the alliance to last" a small twitch in her lips "but I have my suspicions" the two glanced at each other a saddened look exchanged between them.
"How has Lord Gaara been recovering?" Matsuri muttered looking down at her untouched tea. Temari tapped the edge of her cup her chest heaving under her black silk robes, pushing the rising anger down. Gaara had been recovering for months after the Akatsuki had taken Shukaku from him. Although saved from death he's been stuck in Suna keeping quiet as to not let their enemies know of his recent weakness, the council's suggestion. They preferred to keep him there for years now and even with protest he remained to appease them. Regardless, she agreed at times after all she was the commanding captain of Suna's troops. She wouldn't let the Leaf know, she wasn't even remotely ready to trust them, if ever. They declared on keeping their distance after the betrayal and the Suna council turned their backs on the matter for years. Like two children after a school yard scuffle, neither wanting to apologize first. Men always throwing their fists first and asking questions later.
Her mind wandered a moment to the man who had made her blush, her enemy, although she didn't trust him he'd been growing on her. She could laugh at the amusing thoughts she's had recently, yet the thought of a blade to his throat entertained her more than her image of a gentle touch to his lips. How strange, the idea both irritated and spoke to some idealistic teenage girl in the back of her head. She turned her gaze back up to her students her expression stern and eyes slightly narrowed hiding the fact she had a small blush on her cheeks.
"Your Kazekage is well, do not share any information regarding the manner to the Leaf understood?" The two swallowed nervously and nodded quickly. Temari huffed lifting her tea again "We cannot allow them to find out Gaara was attacked, if word gets out our" she sneered "allies might use it against us after this battle with the Land of Earth"
"So we can't trust them?" Yukata ventured sipping her tea quickly.
"Not yet" Temari looked down into her cup, Matsuri signed leaning on her hand looking defeated.
"It's been like this for years Lady Temari can't we all just forgive each other? You know like when me and Yukata were kids, we were allies then right?" Temari casted a her a glare and she pulled back straightening her posture.
"The desert is as unforgiving as it is unforgettable" she muttered taking a sip from her tea and looking towards her table set beside her bed. "When my father was alive, we held onto the Leaf as allies because our nations were stronger together rather than apart" She glared back at them "When Gaara was born he changed and so did his view on the alliance. He made Gaara into a weapon to gain back Suna's freedom, you two were too young to remember it" She looked down for a moment hiding her eyes, they didn't need to see the flashes of horror behind them. With a sharp inhale she glared back up at them "We were given the shorthand in life, and we worked with it, we are proud merciless people" She inhaled and steadied her rising rage at the topic, not her favorite in the least. "We tried to mend it ten years ago but were refused, we haven't forgotten that betrayal Matsuri" Her last words bitter as she grinded her teeth. Matsuri grinned softly at her although she was uneasy at her tone, as always hopeful.
"Who knows maybe things will be different" Yukata nodded with her
"Yeah, maybe after the battle things will be different" She paused bringing a finger to her lips thoughtful "Well if we win" Temari scoffed a short laugh escaping her. Although she expected a few loses during the upcoming fight there was one thing that she, and Shikamaru, were positive about, it was victory. With combined experience and intelligence, the two worked well together at finding each flaw in his plan smoothing it over the moment it occurred, a good quality in commanders. He'd beaten odds before, she knew about the battles he's faced in and each one a victory under his belt, but she was one thing he wasn't, ruthless. Where he could work around a problem using his intellect, she barreled head on into them like a force of nature one couldn't stop.
She wondered absentmindedly, who would win a game of Shogi?
"You two know about the genius of the Leaf?" Temari looked between them and leaned in when they nodded slowly at her "He's the reason we are allies currently"
"Is he as smart as they say?" Matsuri raised her brow at her.
"He's still a man, so not that smart" The three chuckled and quieted when Temari continued "As Kunoichi we possess a rather interesting quality that men lack" She leaned in her students mesmerized by her slanted gaze enticing them to push forward and stare up in awe at her as she whispered for effect "we control the men that fight for us, they don't see it" she grinned slowly "they never do, but we are the real generals behind the line" She straightened the two sitting up quickly having broken from her hold "men are nothing without women" with a wave of her hand dismissing the subject further she turned her gaze to her empty tea cup raising it up "Just remember that as women we have more tactics up our sleeves than just our fists ladies"
"Lady Temari when did you learn all this?" Yukata blinked dazed for a moment and quickly glanced at her awaiting cup grabbing the teapot and pouring. Temari casted a small smile to her in thanks and sipped. She set her tea down and stood her students following her.
"That's a secret you aren't ready for yet" She chuckled amused at their widened amazed eyes "You two keep up your training and you'll be with me during the battle and remember" Temari crossed her arms looking at each girl in warning "don't speak to anyone about Gaara, understood?" They looked up at her and nodded "Good, now go on and get me Kankuro, if he's still asleep just wake him from a distance or he"ll try hitting you" they nodded hesitantly at the request and walked to the curtain and turned bowing their heads to her before leaving.
Temari let out a soft sigh forcing her mind away from her brother back home and began to untie her sash. She had to bring her focus back here, to the impending battle ahead, she draped her robe onto her bed fitting herself into her fishnet shirt. A simple scan of the battlefield would need to occur later, she chose to do this alone it would be nice to get away from camp for a bit. She'd been meaning to take a closer look at the three hundred troops stationed near the Land of Rain. Her fingers tightened around her red sash and wrapped it around her pale lavender waist mind elsewhere as she fixed her pigtails next and adjusted her headband to her forehead. Slipping lastly her elbow length braces clipping the ends quietly until she heard the shuffle of feet outside.
"Temari, you decent?" Her eyes focused in the mirror on the shadow at the curtain of her brother waiting to enter.
"Kankuro come in" She called her voice softer than her usual tone grabbing her sandy scarf and wrapping it around her neck as he appeared a loud yawn escaping him as he turned to her.
"Morning" he grumbled looking around before walking to her table and seating himself down "Your little students woke me up by throwing rocks at me"
"I told them too" She snorted, attempting to hide her grin, and came over kneeling across from him pouring him a cup of tea which he took quietly, and sipped eyes still half closed and hidden behind thick purple war paint "you need to look presentable so sit straight" He sighed and obeyed while glaring at her when she licked her thumb and began to wipe at a stray line on his face "Do you want the leaf to start calling us savages too?" She glared back and he groaned batting at her hand and sipped the tea in one go.
"Why should we care, you saw that crazy looking guy with the white eyes yesterday we are still traitors to them" he pulled his hood off scratching his head and shut his eyes, he was not the best person to talk to in the morning.
"We are not" her eyes rolled annoyed at his sluggish behavior "We have to play nice for Gaara sake" Kankuro glanced over at her sighing his next words cautious as the few times he's asked he avoided it completely or got mad.
"Seriously how did Nara convince you to join up anyways? You're to hardcore to be accepting the Leaf's help" She glared up at him, but he didn't back down waiting expectantly.
"Listen this doesn't leave us, got it" She lifted her free hand up pinky raised. He smirked and gripped her pinky with his.
"Well?" Her brother raised his brows waiting. She pulled away hands gripping her bare knees as she straightened her voice steady and calm, as if she was giving a command.
"The day the ambush occurred I might have been ordered to kill Shikamaru" Temari's glare didn't leave his but his eyes slowly narrowed as she continued "Well we got to close to the ambush site and he might have pushed me out the way from getting blown up" she looked away for a second grinding her teeth "Then we met up again and snuck into the camp and stole the intel and now we are here as allies fighting against our common enemy" she waited seeing the flash of anger in his eyes as he slammed his hand into the table the teacups clattering around and hers tipping over spilling her drink.
"I'm gonna kill him!" he barred his teeth looking like he was about to start a fight. She scoffed rolling her eyes at him.
"No, you're not" She spoke calmly almost as if rehearsed she expected this from him. He gripped the edge of the table fuming.
"Temari, you let him live, after what happened a couple weeks back? You had a shot so why didn't you kill him?" He leaned into the table his words coming out in a growl. She didn't answer she still didn't know entirely. "Was he there when we found you? We could have all taken Nara down easily" Temari shut her eyes and rose quietly the subtle breeze around her blowing towards Kankuro as he pulled back but didn't let his rage subside although it commanded his attention. When her scarf fell back to its original position, she turned her darkened eyes to him.
"Kankuro that man has been alive for the past four years because I allowed it" She glared down at him "and I'm only alive because he saved me first, I owed him one and you know I don't like owing anyone" Kankuro snorted arms crossed and looked away realizing she was right. Temari turned ending the debate with him and sat herself on her sleeping mag slipping her shoes on "I'm not saying I trust him or anything, I mean I did push him off a cliff" she shrugged and grinned when her brother snorted and bit back his laugh lightning the tense mood but only slightly "he knows as much as I do that we need to be civil with each other right now or else we'll all be dead in two days. So calm down for the time being. We have other problems to you know" Kankuro stood and slipped his hood back on, quiet for a second but in agreement.
"Fine I'll be civil but only for you and only cause he didn't kill you" he pointed at her "if I sense any kind of betrayal, however, I'm killing them all" He declared and marched to the curtain slipping it open and paused. "Great" He glanced back as his sister stood, fingers wrapping around her small fan "We have guests" He muttered his lips turning down as he eyed the trio speaking with Baki at the tent located in front of the oasis. Temari smirked waving the fan over her face as she came to his side nudging his shoulder with hers.
"Remember be nice" She hummed.
"Same goes to you sis" he chuckled and followed at her side towards the war room. The four outside the tent stood apart from each other with the elders of the group sharing a laugh. They might have been enemies but the respect among them never wavered. Kakashi sighed looking as relaxed as ever inside the enemy camp, hands in his pockets one eye trained to Baki in friendly conversation.
"Baki I'm telling you if Guy was here" Baki smirked behind his half mask.
"I'd take him on, we are due for a little rematch anyways" He chuckled "I still owe him one from five years ago when I was commander, knocked me right into the cliffside, I was bruised for days" Kakashi chuckled shaking his head.
"He's to much sometimes" Shikamaru rolled his eyes looking away from the two reminiscing rivals and lazily scanned the camp around him, taking in the silent stares directed towards the group. Everything seemed different from the last time he was here, of course it was night when he had snuck in, but it was much brighter now the heat rising from sand below him, blurring the horizon further into the Land of Wind, a mirage. Each tent blending with the rocky sand below and even the passing troops seemed to match the terrain in their uniforms. Even the breeze was warm here, leaving no relief to the heat. He glanced up spotting the lone thin cloud in the sky and sighed pulling his focus back down to Sai when he spoke.
"When will we set up the ambushes?" Sai glanced past him but remained stoic although cautious as his commander was.
"Tomorrow" he furrowed his brows as Sai continued to stare past him "you'll most likely be spending the night and I'll have Ino join you, she'll be able to relay any problems you encounter" Still staring his gaze moved slightly to his right beside him. Shikamaru followed his eyes and flinched back when he saw Kankuro glaring at him from his side paint cracking under his sneer.
"Well, well looks like you Leaf Shinobi are punctual too" He smirked at him savoring in his unease at his appearance, even more so when he threw his arm over his shoulder and brought him close "how you doing Nara, been a while, hasn't it?" Shikamaru, very much uncomfortable, didn't rise to the comment however. Temari sighed coming from her brothers side looking disinterested in his antics.
"I just told you to be nice, Kankuro" she muttered walking past the two, but not before casting a small side glance at Shikamaru who pulled his focus away the instant she emerged, his gaze followed her for a second before hearing Kankuro clear his throat, and releasing him.
"I didn't promise anything" He shrugged and followed behind her protectively. Shikamaru sighed quietly and followed the group into the war room, their new allies were a bit to intense for his liking. Slipping behind the curtain he took a moment to admire the elegant setup of the shaded room. Simple yet adorned with red and golden drapes at the entrance, satin and silk fabrics laid about, the entrance used to shield against the glaring sun outside. The table set accordingly to the task at hand and elaborately drawn by expert craftsmanship. He stood across the table from the Suna commander vaguely listened to the eldest speak as he pulled his focus from her down to the setup on the table.
"I've called for some tea should get here soon to take the edge off the heat" Baki crossed his arms standing beside Kakashi who nodded.
"How nice" he mused searching the map below with an interested eye "Seems like the terrain will be perfect for one-on-one fights"
"That it will, the fields should be mostly stone, so they will have some advantage towards us, but that's what our long-distance units will be up against" Kakashi turned to him and nodded.
"A good strategy, pin the hardest location for the fights that can counter the enemy's strength" Shikamaru turned his eyes back to them and straightened as the attention turned to Temari a small fan similar to her weapon blowing a soft breeze to her face as she spoke, her voice commanding the room.
"I've set the command to Baki to lead the attack against the Earth's first wave when they join up with the decoys, he'll be able to thin the troops down and when they are forced to retreat" She turned her eyes from her commander to her brother, Shikamaru following her gaze "Kankuro will be waiting at the first ravine to trap the retreat where our second wave will pick off the enemy while we wait for the delayed troops" Their eyes shifted simultaneously to one another eyes set on soft glares "Objections?" she raised a brow at him, fan shutting audibly, at his expectant look.
"Just one" he turned their attention to the table "The ambushes have to happened at the same time, so the main army doesn't see it coming"
"And if they retreat?" she questioned crossing her arms.
"They'll try but that's where the second half of the army comes into play, our united forces" he leaned in shifting a piece from the Sand and Leaf behind the delayed ambush location. "This is where our main battle will take place" He pulled back slipping his hands into his pockets as she furrowed her brows, contemplating over the new tactic, from the genius before her "they have no other choice but to cross into the ravine as Kurotsuchi said they want to avoid the land of Rain so they'll have to go around and that's where we can trap them" he sighed "It'll still be challenging to engage"
"But manageable" She nodded her agreement looking back down at the newly positioned figurines.
"Kakashi will lead against the first wave for our troops, Shino and Kiba will join Kankuro in the delay as his second and third in command. They are our sensory units so the will know when the delay is approaching, and Shino will send word to us when it begins" He added glancing down from her to where the first retreat will occur.
"We will march the troops towards the delay when the first wave engages Kankuro's unit" Kakashi turned to Shikamaru who nodded absently, his eyes trained to the table "Naruto will be with your unit I'm guessing?" Kakashi brow raised slowly the mention of him turning to attention of the room.
"He and Yamato, yes" Shikamaru avoided the obvious unease in the room from the allies and slipped his hand into his vest lighting a cigarette to occupy himself in the uncomfortable situation.
"He's not in control of that nine tails, is he?" Temari remarked with a burning glare turned to him.
"He'll be fine" Shikamaru muttered through the bud on his lips and glanced impassively at her "At least with him we stand a chance against the main army" his own glare tightened "he is a jinchuriki after all" The room silenced a uneasy hesitation waving over each Sand command. A realization that with Naruto they did have a chance even with the numbers disadvantage. With him apart of the main unit he would be their secret weapon, able to use his shadow clone and sage powers to even the odds, as Shikamaru had already predicted. Although the small fault of him releasing to much of the nine tails chakra was there it was a very slim chance, and Yamato would be there to contain him if it occurred. Plan set and ready.
Temari bit back anymore comments towards the mention of the Leaf's jinchuriki. Although not pleased with it she could see the advantage of his power added towards the main army. Kankuro gave her short glances showing his annoyance towards the situation, but she made no move to speak on it. She raised her eyes back towards Shikamaru narrowing them slightly at his stoic expression, he really did plan it all out no wonder he was so calm. She huffed and slipped her fan open waving the heat from her, irritated, turning past him to the shadows at the curtains.
"Who is it?" she demanded when the shadows remained and flinched at her tone. The room woke to her voice and looked towards the curtain as Matsuri peeked her head in.
"Lady Temari?" she smiled weakly.
"What do you want Matsuri?" She forced her tone to be even although it didn't lose its harsh edge.
"Baki Sensai said to bring some tea for everyone" She lifted a sandstone teapot to prove her point and Temari glanced away directing her anger to her fan as she sighed hoping the breeze would sooth her.
"Fine, just hurry up" She glanced back at Baki when he smirked. The two entered quietly looking around the room as they shifted towards their captains.
"They sure took their time" Baki crossed his arms.
"Sorry we just didn't want to interrupt" Yukata set a cup down for him while Matsuri poured eyes looking between the allies with a small blush. Temari glanced at them as they passed her setting her tea down. Matsuri stood behind her for a moment staring like a blushing schoolgirl at the three.
"They are so handsome" she whispered causing a small grin to grace the kunoichi's lips anger melting as amusement took over.
"Focus, I said hurry, didn't I?" Although a warning she chuckled at her student's red face as she hurried past her to fill the cups Yukata had placed, her companion as red as she was. Temari casted a glance at Shikamaru as he leaned back away from Matsuri's awe filled stare and looked over at Temari when she smirked, him looking uncomfortable to say the least. The two stood before the curtain, finished with their task, and bowed before leaving.
"How nice" Kakashi smiled setting down his cup the eyes from everyone turning to him, his mask never left his face and yet his cup was empty "haven't had Suna's finest brew in some time" Baki chuckled "cools you right down"
"It's been to long then" the two mused together discussing the finer things of their nations. Kankuro sipped his tea turning to his sister while the mood somewhat lightened in the war room.
"You sure you'll be fine alone with the main unit? There won't be much of us there with you" he muttered behind the cup eyes scanning Shikamaru as Sai spoke to him about his ambush.
"Why wouldn't I be?" She shut her eyes fanning herself quietly.
"I mean you've got that Naruto guy there, not really great for us if they want to you know" he raised his hand mimicking the action of stabbing someone. Temari slipped one eye open and groaned shutting her fan and knocking it over his head causing him to flinch back annoyingly.
"Shut up will you" she hissed under her breath and shot him a glare before turning to the table. She focused on the plans ahead, it was a good one, very little fault and an easy way to escape if things went south. The meeting continued in the same manner everyone assigned to their respected unit and each captain to be informed of the merging of the units the next day. She found herself admiring the work put into the war, although short lived she had found herself surprised that Shikamaru planned it all down to the final minute of battle. Genius was a light term to assign to him, and she respected each move made.
He'd won the battle in his head several different ways and as she hid behind her fan at the end of the hour long discussion, she found herself slowly building up her rage. The idea of their allies turning on them almost made her anxious, small but still a lingering feeling she hated having. She hasn't been worried in a long-time. Reminiscing thoughts clouding her mind as she forced herself to focus to the calm voice before her. Temari pulled her alert gaze back to Shikamaru as he slipped his hands in his pockets and nodded to Baki.
"Once we are regrouped, we'll be done and their army will have either retreated or died" He let out a sigh rubbing his neck clearly disinterested in his long speech "Then our Kage decide what happens to the alliance" he muttered last turning to read the room and resting his eyes on Temari. She forced her eyes to narrow give him a cold look, but it came out more like a suspicious glare.
"Sounds good" she lifted her head and looked at Kankuro "go and prepare your ambush you'll leave tomorrow morning with the Leaf units" he nodded and left the room leaving her to return her gaze to Shikamaru. Baki watched him leave and turned to her.
"We'll bring our unit captains together this afternoon to go over their roles, I leave the rest you Temari" He bowed his head and left. Kakashi waved a hand and turned to leave with Sai noticing the silence between the captains. She crossed her arms expectantly as Shikamaru looked at his leaving comrades then turned his relaxed look to her.
"Well?" As he predicted she'd speak first.
"You never mentioned the Rain" He straightened but remained calm. Temari sighed with a wave of her fan closing her eyes, dismissive of his words. She'd already figured out her own plan to scope out the battlefield alone, the troops stationed there crossed her mind a few times. The idea of the Rain posing a threat to the Land of Earth had bothered her since returning from their camp. A short flash of Gaara came to her mind, they were hiding there the ones who hurt him.
"The area where the battle will be is far enough away" Her eyes slid open and watched him "wouldn't want to give the wrong impression to them by getting to close now would we?" Smug in her words he half grinned at her and dropped his head.
"No, we wouldn't want that" He turned to leave paused and glanced back eyes narrowed "if the troops there join the main army its going to be troublesome"
"You going to give up on me again, Shikamaru?" Her tone teasing enticing him to hold her gaze a moment longer as he smirked turning his head and walking to the curtain.
"And give all the glory to you? Not a chance Temari" She turned her focus back to the table the glare of the sudden light hitting her eyes for a moment before disappearing along with him. Hiding her rosy cheeks behind her fan furious with herself. She dropped her head giving herself some time to relax, and for them to leave before straightening and slipping her fan shut rather harshly. She had a mission to finish tonight she couldn't afford to laze around in her thoughts.