Everything. enough said *mic drop*

Plus Gaara for my sand fans out there, he'd got his own little part in all this *wink wink*

Enjoy and thank you all for the comments, makes my day!

The sand shifted under the furious fast pace of the unit of four, each Sand shinobi pushing past the loose ground with great skill. The bitter night air threatened to pierce the beige armor they wore but even as they braced the cold, their eyes showed no fault each one more serious than the next. The one in front glared into the distance, his chin to his nose covered in white wraps, darkened blue eyes narrowing as the gust of wind shifting loose sand forcing from the ground and towards them, the attack blasting a sandstorm their way. The man slowed, their captain of the squad, and brought a kunai up front waiting for the warning to finish, the dark shadow before them retreating the splayed fan and slipping it shut to his side, one of their men. A tense silence between the two sides before the man stepped forward towards his demise it seemed. Green eyes glinting as he slipped his fan behind him and held the stare of the squad captain. With a sneer tugging the bandages the blue eyed man spoke, a familiarity between the two sides.

"Saku, don't you know it's rude to turn your weapon against your own people" the man mocked barking out a sharp laugh.

"How else would I have stopped you Kenji" Saku spoke quieter, but his voice as even free of his usual stutter.

"Why did you follow our patrol this far out? Aren't you supposed to be guarding the camp?" Kenji crossed his arms, eyes narrowed, knowing though he posed no threat.

"I want in" a simple reply leaving the men baffled.

"You?" Kenji laughed his men behind him snickering along with their leader "Why would you go against the royal family? Aren't you some lost puppy dog who follows Lady Temari around?" the jab at Saku angered him.

"You did to, until she broke your nose" the mock returned with a smirk, Kenji growled and huffed speaking his words through clenched teeth at the memory, the main reason he wore his wraps to hide the crooked scarred nose.

"What do you want out of this anyways aren't you a loyal" The hiss met with a sharp exhale as if Saku needed a moment to steady his thoughts.

"Listen if you're planning to attack after the battle, I'm in" straightening he glared back at Kenji who smirked under the wraps.

"Why now runt?"

"I heard news about a permanent alliance, and I know your little rebels won't like it" He would have smiled at their shocked looks, but he was serious.

"You serious?" Kenji gapped eyes widening and looked back at his men "They won't be happy about hearing that, we can't let the Sand and Leaf become allies again" turning back to Saku he narrowed his eyes suspiciously "How do you know all this anyways?"

"I'm not a loyal, never was" he paused as if he was admitting a secret, which wasn't a very hidden one "I just happened to like her that's all" Saku stammered for a moment rubbing his arm but with the thoughts of what he saw earlier in the day took a breath and straightened furious "The meeting today with their command was found out, they know about the tampered documents, I just happened to hear it from the chatty jinchuriki on their way out of the war room" Kenji tensed blue against green each glaring a warning quietly at another "Listen to the wind Kenji" Actively having heard the blonde mention tampering as they had left the camp, his glare meeting the dark narrowed eyes of the Leaf's command before he quieted the jinchuriki with a harsh whisper.

"What makes you think we'll let you live after telling us this? You have never showed interest in serving with us? You some kinda spy Saku?" Kenji raised the kunai to him but stilled when Saku shook his head fists clenched.

"I'm ready now, just like my father did ten years ago I'm ready to take out the Sabakuno clan" He paused and inhaled, the memory of his father who had betrayed Rasa with the attack against him, led by Orochimaru. He steadied his words, even and calm, hiding his rage "but under one condition"

"Yeah, What's that?" Kenji crossed his arms a subtle hint of respect behind his blue gaze at the mention. Saku smirked his stammer gone his eyes narrowed, vengeful as his father's before.

"I get to kill the commander of the Leaf"

Peaceful as the night seemed the moves made in the desert didn't settle well with the Kazekage, he didn't show it outside of his stoic expression, but he felt the rising anticipation with each subtle shift in the wind changing the dunes into a new place with each blow all while listening to the words of Baki, somewhat actively, the plan seemingly flawless of the predicted victory for tomorrow. He could see why his sister respected the commander, probably why she didn't kill him like the others, he saw through every possibility and made moves ahead that many before him couldn't see, it was like he was born for the role. He was thankful for his silent work in holding the peace among their fronts, they might have been foes, but by the reports he'd seen he wasn't a killer, at least not by choice.

Gaara knew the moment Temari returned from the town of Bara three years ago that the ruthless nature she possessed, the one she'd been feeding into with the responsibilities she had set for herself to protect everyone as he did, had been tamed, not by much though, but enough to see his sister sought peace for good. She excelled in the art of war as if she was molded to lead in it, his father's doing no doubt, but her heart remained stitched together from years of the hurt. He'd seen the way she rarely slipped from time to time, at least he'd see the subtle changes in her when she did. The count of the dead smaller, the battles less often, but the council's efforts to seek their revenge against those who had denied them still had her hold, it was her duty to her people. Yet she managed to remain a gentle carefree soul around him, from the moment they returned from the Leaf ten years ago and even before that, her desire to be there for him and Kankuro stood beyond any barrier, and he loved her dearly for it.

He remembered her soft call of his name, eager but still a whisper, when he awoke from the attack on his village and suffered the loss of the demon Shukaku; he at first thought she was his mother. A strange dream of a delicate pair of blue eyes and sandy hair looking down at him, a gentle smile, only to realize it had been Temari and not their mother, the teal smiling down instead. He remembered a song, a light lullaby something that filled his deep sleep until his eyes opened to the white walls of the hospital. He felt the press of her fierce hug and saw the tears welling in his brother's eyes behind her, he turned away before he could show them fall wiping at his face with his sleeve, embarrassed to show weakness. Temari cried quietly, holding back her true terror like when she had found him, and from then regained a certain calmness, as if she sought a new desire, but refused to show it to her brothers.

Gaara now silently regretful at having to mention his death to Naruto in front of her, waited for her return. She'd be here soon, he knew she never left him for long, she always said if both he and Kankuro were hanging from a cliff she'd easily save him first and maybe think about saving their brother, they had laughed he had smiled at the humorous notion. He even feared, although held inside, for Naruto when he saw the mention of the Akatsuki, they were the enemy, not the man who had stood before him ready to call him an ally without a second thought; he truly was a strong one and Gaara respected him, grateful for the words that changed him many years ago. He just wished he was able to talk to him sooner, before all the blood spilled between the nations, he didn't hate them but hopefully it wasn't to late to start new, he'd make the council listen and as soon as he knew his sister was with him she'd be able to help. Temari could be quite convincing when she wanted to be taken seriously.

However, the Sand was shifting right now, and he needed to listen for it.

The motion of Baki turning to the curtain as it moved brought both of their attentions to Temari as she entered settling to his side instantly and draping her arms around him in a quiet hug, one of great appreciation for his presence. You'd think after a few days apart she'd be happy to just say a greeting, but she wasn't one to shy away from showing her softer side to her brothers in private moments, well more sisterly annoyance to Kankuro than anything else. Then there was that one time she hugged Baki, man looked like he'd been cornered into a trap and was living out his final seconds of life until she laughed.

"I wasn't about to hug you in front of the Leaf shinobi" she muttered pulling back with a smirk, of course she could also read his mind. Gaara grinned faintly returning the exchange, his own way, of missing the other before she turned to Baki "Anything else you'll need for tomorrow?"

"Nothing but my troops to know their cue to set off the hidden bombs on the battlefield when the decoys meet up with the first wave" He sighed dropping his crossed arms "hopefully those new recruits sent will know what to do" Temari rolled her eyes as if she was annoyed with the idea of someone ruining it, which she was.

"I hope they just don't trigger them to soon" a silent warning behind her words for everything to go as planned, she didn't like messing up when she could help it "Shikamaru said they are both an advantage and a disadvantage to your first wave if our own get to close to the Rock shinobi before they set them off, it's basically just suicide if they don't time it right, but if it works you'll be able to thin down the attack as you lead them to Kankuro's unit"

"Like I always said keep your feet light when you run" Baki grinned as she chuckled, her mood seemingly better than before, Gaara's gaze shifting to meet the small smile she gave, always friendlier as she was around the few people she trusted.

"And never put all your effort into one hit until you are sure it will land yeah yeah, I remember Baki Sensai" She waved him away as if reminiscing about her training when she was younger wasn't important, although it lightened the mood. Gaara stepped forward eyes shut arms crossed, her smile falling she took a breath stilling the amusement of the room and awaiting his words, ones she knew about, ones that he always knew about, she thought.

"If this goes well, we just need to worry about the rebels afterwards" He looked to her the smirk rising as usual, she already had a plan set in motion, he could always count on her for that.

"What's to worry about brother? I've been waiting for them to strike for months now and what better time than when there is a battle already happening, easier to kill your own, that's why you can't be there Gaara" although she was confident in her words, and her order for him to stay out of it remained demanded as an elder sister rather than a commander, they both shared the same concern, a revolt against her own people since his fall four months ago. Her next words a little quieter as she lowered her head slightly into the pale green scarf wrapped around her neck "Besides at least we'll have our little alliance to lean against for the time being"

"Temari, you saw what the council had to say about joining with the Leaf for a few days, a permanent alliance will be much harder to achieve too much mistrust between our sides" Baki called out, his tone low and hushed almost, the tent wasn't exactly soundproof after all.

"I have a feeling" she grinned slightly, almost amused "That we might be able to trust in them tomorrow to make the right choices"

"Why would you say that?" Baki narrowed his eyes at her, her sudden mention of trust surprising him, even Gaara felt in the shock.

"The command knows" she stated simply.

"How?" Baki gapped slightly eye widening at how she was able to share the information.

"Baki seems you have doubted you opponent once again" She mocked back a little harsly, as if warning him not to question her ways, she was always a difficult woman when it came to pulling information from her especially that which she chose not to share "Besides when did you start worrying?" she smirked teasing his attempt at questioning her.

"You are a sly woman you know that" he sighed, knowing better then to ask.

"Thanks" She pulled her grin back wider, as Baki chuckled, softening her gaze back to Gara when he spoke.

"So, you trust him then?" there was a moment, a slip in the stitch, so fleetly Gaara barely saw it.

"He's someone we can trust, but I didn't say we should, not yet at least" she was hesitant to say it, she always spoke with such ease and her next words proved she had slipped, but only to him "Gaara I've been fighting that man for four years now, you get to know someone pretty well when you're trying to kill each other" she pulled a tight grin and turned her eyes away dipping her chin into the scarf just enough to hide it, Gaara shut his eyes in silence, he'd caught her, the shift, and she knew it.

Kunoichi passage two, the art of Beauty and Deception

A woman's beauty to captivate man's heart, voiding him of all threat, right before the betray.

Long ago there was a kunoichi named Kireina, the beautiful one.

A divine woman believed to be sent down from the heavens as a magnificent goddess among mortal men. Her beauty knowing no bounds of attracting all who saw, and temping even the most powerful to their knees, all to obey, and all to follow, such a woman to be admired.

Among her village, hidden in the hills, she was the fiercest and bravest of kunoichi, leading alongside her warriors against all who dared threaten their seemingly peaceful existence. Women and men sacrificing life and death for the protection of their people, cruel by nature she showed no mercy and never turned down her orders.

She was ruthless.

She had been sent on a mission to kill the leader of a neighboring village who was rumored, by her people, to have threatened to strike down all who opposed his rule. Kireina had walked among his land as a lost woman searching to serve him as he wished, her mission going well when he bowed at her feet the moment, she entered his presence. As if she was a goddess, he pleaded for her to be his wife after the time spent with him, she had questioned if the man had ever been a demon others claimed him as, he was not what the stories had told about.

His name was Yasashi, the gentle one. He was a kind man, a man of word and fine literature, and humble giving to all in need. Even his servants admired him, offered to come and go as pleased, and yet they stayed at his side on their own wishes. He was loved by his people as he did nothing but protect them and show them the respect, they gave him. In Kireina's presence, he basked in her beauty and fell blindly for her every lie spoken through the lips of her soft poisoned words, he loved her gently and with great care as if he'd break her fair skin with a kiss to eager, every word spoken through his lips honest, loving and she began to break inside in the months spent with him, wretchedly awaiting her command to attack. Piece by piece, the words of her people showing him as a monster seemed distant to her when he offered her anything she pleased, things she craved for, love one couldn't get through life so easily.

When the day had come and when she didn't bow, she didn't steer a soft smile or show her kindness, she revealed to him her true self. She pushed down her remorse and sorrow as she rose a katana to him obeying her orders, ones she was forced to submit to. Yasashi understood her duty to her people and bowed his head awaiting his demise to the rumors of his tarnished name, all because he protected his village once from her people many years ago. He spoke gently one last time to tell her she was his one love and stilled as the blade slit his throat, silencing her name from his lips for eternity.

She shed her tears in solitude never to speak of his name again, her enemy, her lover, now dead, her duty to her people now finished. Months later she fled, his child in her arms, his love for her safe from the wrath of her treacherous people. The child raised with gentle love and kindness, the same love he showed her, the child's name was Kazuna, the one to bring peace.

Kazuna did as she was named after, bringing peace to all, taught the great skills by her mother, and yet always had her father's gentle nature. The rage her mother possessed, never touched her pure soul and with her travels of the vast world gaining knowledge she returned back to her homes, ready. Her presence caused a stir among the once enemies and she used it to bring the nations together, the village hidden away between two hills in a distant landed, named Heiwanomura, the village of Peace.

When they had left the cliff, Temari remained inwardly thrilled, possibly a little nervous, as to what had happened, in her panic she chose violence again, covered up by a façade of seduction, she was good at avoiding something if she wanted to. Her skin still tingled, the cold air being her excuse, from the little loss she took to her neck in his surprising boldness, every sound made honest and increasingly harder to miss the signs burning in her body. She stifled a grin burying her lips into the scarf for a moment to hide it, unknown to the man walking a few feet from her, his fault she thought. How annoying it was to be blushing over such little things, so much for those goddesses in the books and their words of wisdom when all this seemed to backfire the moment a man was in control of them. She wasn't going to give in so easily, as much as she wanted to back there, but she wasn't going to let him know that she'd been burning inside, how surprising for someone with such resilience. A blush so small at the thought she would have scolded herself right then and there for being weak, the word even sounded annoying to her in thought.

He didn't seem to fair better, although disinterested the faint narrowing of his eyes still stood as burning as the end of the cigarette on his lips, he'd been embarrassed so much by her over the years he'd just learned to deal with it. She stared for a moment, a small side glance at him, curiosity sparking her interest in the move until she noticed the side glare turned to her the smirk pulling her attention back and forcing her eyes away from him, rather hastily, poorly showing she hadn't been looking. He said nothing continuing on at her side, hands slipped comfortably in his pockets relaxed and calm as if he didn't have to battle tomorrow against an army that still remained larger then theirs combined.

Looking at him now, she still wondered how she had lost to him more than a few times over the years, smart sure, but it took something interesting to motivate him. She glanced over silently once more, eyes narrowed playfully and biting back the smile as she turned her eyes back, shifting her feet over the other and stepping closer to him, she didn't need to look to notice him tense, aware of the closeness, at least she still managed to make him uneasy, she was always good at that. Once uncomfortable her foes were easy to manipulate, not that he didn't push back in their matches as of recently, and not that she secretly minded made things more interesting.

She might just like him enough to consider his trust worth looking into.

The proof being what he already knew. Her recovering brother had already caused concern in Suna, that being a couple of assassination attempts, poorly done apparently as she and Kankuro had been there to witness them and stop them with little effort. It was a sign thought, that with the village's leader weak someone would strike sooner or later, whether it was inside the walls or outside. Knowing her rival, and that being much more now, she figured he'd already figured it out.

"Shikamaru" when she stopped, he halted a step away looking back quietly at her, eyes narrowing when she chose to meet his gaze. She knew what would happened tomorrow when she told her own not to strike first, she knew the outcome and he was simply waiting for her speak it into existence "You know"

"So, they are going to attack us afterwards" he didn't seem interested in the topic but listened, nonetheless.

"It's possible" she paused warily eyeing him, and crossed her arms, of course he knew he always thought ahead both something to respect as an ally and frustrate her as an enemy "When did you figure it out?"

"Back in the Land of Rain" he smirked his hand slipping from his pockets to rub the sore shoulder; arrogance seemed to suit him well, at least in his eyes, she found it almost humorous "Your Kazekage is weakened meaning everyone is trying to figure out a way to push for power. It's only expected" he sighed seemingly disinterested "kinda predictable really that something like this would happened" He shrugged as if he'd already rehearsed this conversation. She lowered her head biting back a grin, not surprised in the least.

"Let me guess your troops already know not to trust them" he nodded "but not all" he nodded again "And you've already planned a counter against them" he nodded "you wanna kiss me" he nodded eyes shooting open widening in surprise at his own misstep. Temari chuckled pleased at her upper hand and brushed past him continuing the walk, how she enjoyed messing with him "You make this to easy Shikamaru it's almost boring" she called back hearing the groan, annoyed at her. The shift, so slight in his steps she only had time to widen her eyes before her body froze, the faint shadow below darkened stretched out to him.

"Like I said your trouble" he sighed calm steps shifting the rocks behind her "no wonder my dad told me to keep an eye on you" she heard the mutter, he thought to quiet to hear, and narrowed her eyes

"I thought I said I don't need to be looked after" she grumbled remaining still, not that she had the choice right now to move, not her first time in it either. She wasn't necessarily intimidated as he got closer, but a sudden unease waved over her, like when someone watched you and you couldn't see them, when he stood beside her speaking close to the side of her cheek, near her ear, like when she did once. She glared ahead of her in a silent rage, and the burning began.

"Trust me I know you can look after yourself, but like you said always watch your back" This must have been what he felt like when she got to close, her chest heaved slightly with the sudden presence, but he made no move to step away or come closer. Quietly gaging what he planned to do, and how she planned to pay him back for it, probability of violence high now, other things there but lower "You're quiet what no snarky comment?" he ventured cautiously when she didn't reply at first, her silence seeming to speak for itself.

"I'm just thinking of all the ways Ill kick your ass after this" she smirked hearing him lean away with a sigh, walking around her as he spoke, she felt her fingers move to her own will, her body loosened and knew she was free to move but opted not to.

"Temari you're going to be the end of me, you know that?" stopping in front her, her tone having been a calm warning, he looked down to meet her glare up at him, a threat behind the teals.

"Well if it's going to be someone might as well be me" she would have struck him, she could have. There was also a ledge a little bit away she could use, she did like that idea more each time she thought of it. When he grinned down at her, soft and gentle, she furrowed her eyes her thoughts interrupted.

"You look very beautiful in that scarf, matches your eyes" the seemingly simple compliment softened her gaze for a moment, her cheeks burned, and she stared up at him as she had once before. Stunned slightly at her own sudden sheepishness towards it she huffed allowing a second to compose the rage she had built.

"Shut up" Pushing past him making sure to use his shoulder for it, grinning into the scarf only after he grumbled, before taking to her side again, keeping his distance, hiding his own smile.

ADORABLE