Hey so we are making our way to the good stuff. Like they say slow and steady wins the race!
we have three points of views here!
Enjoy!
The shutter of the Earth.
The split in the ground.
Threatening all in it's path.
The crack in the earth broke apart, gradually increasing in size and rushing forward towards the three, the black abyss below spreading to devour all in its path. The crack split under Temari, at first thin and faint line that began to spread out, readying to bury her under rock and gravel, just like the ambushes had earlier with the Rock shinobi, how ironic was that she thought almost laughing, they had buried the Rock shinobi and now Kurostuchi was returning the favor back at them.
When she looked down into the growing darkness below, what could be her demise and her allies, she reacted before she thought about her move made. The impulse was to push them aside, they couldn't get out from below like she could, her fan being her escape if need be, feeling the ground give under her, her thoughts forced the halt as she moved. Attempting to avoid the same fate as the unfortunate shinobi behind them who cried out as they plunged into the darkness. Temari hastily turned to Ino, using the end of the fan to push her back, accompanied by her surprised scream, to the edge of the rumbling earth as the ground below her had begun to crumble and fall down into the deep abyss underneath them. In the same moment she jumped back on the opposite side, ready to push Shikamaru back, but she was frozen.
Ino fell back with a gasp, the sudden impact knocking the breath from her, but saving her from falling under the disappearing ground she has been on, thankful for the save thought more than ready to complain later on the method Temari had used. Quickly sitting up she looked over at her savior on the other side, her body was being held back as she leaned forward at the edge of the opened abyss, almost falling in. Behind her Shikamaru stepping back, hands raised in his shadow possession, her body following his under the connected shadow, saving her from the edge of the ledge.
But the ground still shook.
In the distance as the crack continued to advance towards the edge of the ravine, splitting from the ground to the cliffside, the earth cracking open and shoot out boulders, rocks, and dust into the unsuspecting fights around them, all nations feeling the strike, the attack showing no mercy to those in the way.
"You alright?" Shikamaru shouted to Temari over the blast, the dust and rocks spreading past them, making it harder to see.
"I could have saved myself you know" Temari shouted back to him her body still frozen under the shadow, Shikamaru rolled his eyes as he released her, angry seemed to be her default mood even when he saved her. Turning to face him, ready to yell it seemed, her anger seeped through as she spoke, but it wasn't directed at him "get down!" she warned with a shout, the instant she lifted her weapon Shikamaru had dropped down narrowly avoiding the swing of her fan. The audible cry of a rock shinobi who had been running towards them, silenced under the hit.
Returning to stand again Temari gave him a smug grin, please in her save, as he slipped his chakra blades out with a short frown back to her before he began scanning the scene around him, observing what he could see as he dust settled. Earth, Fire, and Wind continuing on in the battle as if nothing happened, some staring off into the crack in the earth, others simply dead on the ground. A real war. The man that had ran at them laid limp to his side, causing him to grimace at the sight of the blood and look back up to her, angry woman was his first thought, best to avoid standing in her way from now on, yet even as he warned himself, he knew he'd just end up doing something stupid, because he was staring again. Temari had turned to face where Kurostuchi had once been, the Earth's command now forced back into the battle against Team seven. With her decision made, she went to step towards the fight, but Shikamaru had already moved to stand in her way, a bit hastily as she almost walked right into him.
"Shikamaru" the unforgiving harsh edge to her tone wasn't exactly kind to his name being spoken, but he spoke quickly to avoid the irritated look he got from her. She was far more patient with him and he was more than thankful for it at the moment.
"Let them handle it Temari, we'll just get in the way of their fight" He looked down to her "Trust me" he waited expectantly for the anger, the laugh maybe, that he was trying to tell her what to do, but she was quiet for a moment staring back up at him, in her thoughts it seemed. With a huff, calmed down, she shoved a finger into his chest making it known she had decided on her own to listen to him.
"You better know what you're doing" Turning from him, unaware of the small smile that he had, her fan readied in her hands as she looked through the fights, calculating where to begin.
"Just keep any more from getting to them" Shikamaru called out to her, her gaze quickly turning back to glare at him, glare at his amusement towards her acceptance to listen to him.
"Don't push you luck on trying to order me around, it's not going to end well for you" She warned, but both hid their grins from the other when they turned back, serious and ready to protect the ongoing battle of Team seven and Kurostuchi.
With the first ambush a success, the battle had been thinned down thanks to the efforts of Baki and Kakashi, though not everyone was safe from the few Rock shinobi that had managed to escape both attacks. Kankuro looked from Goro to Jun both at his sides and all three of their hands raised, four puppets guarding them from the group of six Rock shinobi advancing.
One quickly pushed back by Jun's puppet, a twisted upside-down wooden face, short torso and four arms, each equipped with a sharp blade tip at the ends, the Rock shinobi who had attacked now pierced by all four blades into his chest.
Two pushed together and captured in the Black Ant, their shouting silenced by the Crow as it separated its arms to quickly silence the two shinobi trapped inside.
One more trapped under the leg of a large wooden puppet, the kunai from the shinobi below unable to piece the thick leg that pushed into him, while another Rock shinobi, who attempted to save him, quickly knocked backwards into the ground, with the puppet's hammer like hand thrown into his chest.
The last man remaining, the last Rock shinobi who had avoided each puppet by burrowing underground when he saw his comrades down, had escaped. Kankuro noticing this quickly and searched around ready to shout out to his men to prepare, but the Rock shinobi made himself known by emerging, unexpectedly, from the earth right behind Kankuro, the kunai to fast to avoid, but only managing to hit his arm and not his back.
Kankuro groaned as he pulled away from the Rock shinobi who had slashed him, the edge contacting his left arm, the opened gash stinging and causing him to stumble forward in his attempt to distance himself. The shinobi quick to continue his merciless attack at him had Kankuro dodging back again and ducked his next swipe at him with a grin, his legs pushed him forward and slammed into the shinobi's chest, knocking them both onto the ground, when distance didn't help brute force definitely did. He quickly rolled off coming to a crouch, using the man's struggle to stand to his advantage, lifting his uninjured arm he turned his gaze over the Crow, his closest puppet, with a twitch of his fingers the puppet rushed forward, separating its free arms and head form the Blank Ant, just in time to get the next kunai jabbed into the wooden hand. Goro turned back to see the save and raised his hands to help, shouting to Kankuro.
"Sir you alright?" he called out worryingly, his puppet behind him crushing the man beneath as it shifted and went to face the rock shinobi, pinned against the semi-crumbled cliffside, but already looking between the two ready to attack.
"Yeah, got my arm, nothing to bad" as he spoke Kankuro attempted to raise his left arm, but the pain wasn't helping his efforts, must have cut deeper than he originally thought. Jun came to his side, puppet draped around his back, blade tips bloodied form his kill.
"Goro, you handle this" Jun looked from Goro to the fights off into the distance, the Leaf's shinobi busied in keeping the few Rock shinobi that remained at bay, the rest of the Earth's first wave either dead or retreating from Kakashi and Baki's units further down, or crushed under the rubble from the cliff's successful ambush. The plan having gone so well, that very few had been needed in the start of the fight. When Jun turned back, he looked at Kankuro "Sir you should get back let Goro take care of this your injured and you need to get to the medic. We have to at least be prepared if more come after us" Kankuro glanced over at him and nodded, the sudden unease at the suggestion to leave unsettling him.
"I've got it, go Kankuro" Goro called out to reassure him, his raised hands beginning to control the puppets advance towards the Rock shinobi. Kankuro grimaced at another attempt to move his arm, before he turned following after Jun, looking back to Goro once more before they leap back towards the top of the cliff where their camp from last night was. Looking from side to side, it was empty, no living shinobi, Leaf or Sand, stood at the top, but they laid dead. Their medic that would have been waiting for them, on the ground, throat slit, a hit so deep one had to have been close enough to the shinobi, and ally, now a rebel. No, an enemy. The realization, the moment his eyes turned to Jun, the wicked grin that rose to his mouth accompanied by a snicker, Kankuro had been brought into a trap, by a man he had once trusted. The puppet that once rested on Jun's back crawling forward blades steered towards him, and everything went fast from there.
The betrayal.
The shout of his name.
The gasp.
Kankuro's eyes widened, Goro stilled in front of him, the blood began to flow from the side of his mouth, eyes narrowed furiously as if just realizing what had happened or having accepted it the moment, he chose to protect his captain. Glancing down he held one of the four blades that punctured through his chest, slicing his fingers as he struggled against it, seeing it didn't budge anywhere but forward, he looked back up at Kankuro with a small grin, almost amused.
"I should have stayed with you sir, sorry" he muttered his apology and kneeled coughing more blood out when he bent over, the red hitting the sandy ground below. Behind him Jun smirked, his puppet pulling the blade free and aiming the bloody tip at Kankuro, his face contorting to one of rage, smeared paint cracked under the growl.
"Bastard, your one of them!" Kankuro glared back at Jun with a sneer, Goro had been at his side since his first battle at the front, his sacrifice was meant to spare him time, but every plan Kankuro had on trying to get away didn't seem to come to mind, he was furious, as he looked down at his friend, one of his loyal men.
"Goro should have stayed behind like I said" Jun sighed before grinning back at Kankuro his eyes widening as he spoke "No offense My lord" He mocked a rude bow to him "but it's finally time to get rid of your clan for Suna's greatness, to cleanse the tarnished name of the Subakuno family, this war after all is the fault of your Father's refusal to listen to council when he chose to Gaara a monster. He and your sister, all of you are to blame here" Kankuro stepped back, watching his distance, his hand pressed to his bloodied arm, the ache refusing to let him raise it in defense, yet he was laughing.
"Damn you guys must really be stupid or something if you think that this crap will work, there a reason we are where we are dumbass, but hey why don't you take a stab at me" Jun glared back up at him, his joke seeming to go past his head, as he raised his hands, fingers twitching, the clatter of wood coming towards him, the red blade glinting as it rushed forward. He'd die by the hands of another puppeteer, kinda ironic he thought, as he grinned, might as well go down this way.
Temari would get mad if he died, after she passed the grief stage he though, thinking about how she was when Gaara had died, he almost laughed at the sudden idea of his sister bringing him back from the dead just to beat his ass for dying, she would be the one to do it. He could only wish for his sister and brother to be faring better than he was, if they attacked him meant they were attacking all three of them. He loved his siblings, ever since he could remember Temari was there for him, watching his back keeping him out of trouble, him returning the favor over the years he'd fought at her side. Gaara came later his regret for the things he did, hidden under a stoic expression, but his appreciation for his older brother did show from time to time, and man could pull a prank pretty well when he had the time.
Kankuro Age 5
Kankuro grinned slowly when he saw Temari glance back with a smirk, mischievous and full of trouble making at what they were about to do, a puppet toy gripped tightly in his other hand, a gift he wanted to give.
"You wanna see him don't you Kankuro?" He nodded excitedly, although the nerves in his stomach didn't help, as she reached back to grab his hand and began to tiptoe by her side towards Gaara's room. He didn't like to disobey his father, but when Temari told him about the plan to go and finally meet his brother, now three, he let his curiosity get the better of him. He'd seen him a few times over the years, but never had a chance to actually met him, to talk to his little brother Gaara, his father said to always stay away, but Temari never seemed to listen, and she was always so determined to disobey him. She turned down to him finger to her lips to shush him as he didn't realize he was chuckling under his breath at the idea.
"We gotta be quiet Kankuro, Papa and uncle aren't here so we have a chance to spend some time with Gaara" She gave him her signature wide smile assuring him it was alright, that everything would be ok "you're going to love our baby brother he's so adorable" He awed up at her as she led him down the hall, darkened by nightfall, the moon their only light as she expertly snuck to the end of the hall, the last door, where Suna's secret weapon was. Temari stopped at the door, her hold on his hand squeezing tightly as she reached for the knob and gently turned it, the faint squeaks the only noise in the dead halls. The anticipation made him gasp quietly as she peeked in before turning to him with a wide grin, eagerly guiding them inside to look at the bundle of red hair slowly sitting up from his bed at the turn of the door. Temari walked in no fear, no ounce of hesitation, and stifled a giggle behind her hand when Kankuro gasped.
"Baby brother, look who I brought with me" she whispered and pulled Kankuro to her side, Gaara slowly turning his eyes from her to him. Bright blue staring back silently at him, the nerves began in his stomach again. Kankuro gapped for a moment, unable to speak, as if he was memorized by the sight, a little anxious though as he looked at his sister for guidance, Temari nudged her head reassuring him it was fine and that he should move forward, but he still remained. He turned back to look at Gaara, Temari released his hand to put hers on his back and nudged him a step ahead, Kankuro stumbed forward but was too timid to move fast, Gaara watching them curiously.
"Hi" Kankuro raised a hand sheepishly to wave at Gaara, he blinked raising his hand just as shyly, seemed he was just as nervous as him. He grinned and took another step forward, motivated by the return to speak "I'm Kankuro" his voice broke slightly as he was still nervous to say much "I'm uh your big brother" in the sudden hush between them, Temari was, as always, impatient, with a sharp blow of air, annoyed at the slow pace, she hooked her arm around his and stepped forward briskly until they were near the bed. Releasing him she kneeled down beside Gaara and hugged him. Kankuro watched as she pressed her cheek to his smile wide and happy, he trusted her so why was he scared all of a sudden? Gaara had closed his eyes during the embrace, given no choice as she smushed his cheek in her joy, but at his brother's reluctance to move, he managed to turn his blue gaze up to his big brother who raised his hands to his chest fidgeting with his fingers.
"Come on Kankuro, don't be scared of Gaara, he's so adorable see" The gentle call from Temari pulled his attention as she reached her hand to him, he took it after a moment, and she steered him to sit beside Gaara who's eyes turned to him mouth parted slightly as if he was amazed by seeing his brother so close. Temari pulled away form Gaara and put her hands to her knees nodding excitedly to Kankuro, to share what he had brought with him.
"I uh brought something for you Gaara" Kankuro looked away for a second, taking a breath, and brought the puppet toy in his hand quickly in front of his brother. Gaara looked from him to the toy and reached out for it "It's a puppet" he sounded more excited now when his brother looked awed at it "I really like them, and I have lots more so you can have this one, Temari helped me make it" Gaara took it in his hands and for a moment simply held it, a small grin appearing when he realized the puppet looked like him, with red hair and blue dots for eyes. Gaara looked back up to him and grinned, still small, but Kankuro took it as a bit gesture and smiled back, their sister watching them in the exchange.
"You know" Temari began her own smile falling "Mama always told me to look after you two, and to make sure you got along with each other, but she's not here to see this" she paused and sighed "see us together" she looked down and quickly wiped at her eye as she turned away to hide it, Kankuro eyes widened as he heard her sniffle, Temari never cried he thought, she was his brave big sister. He looked worryingly to Gaara who stared quietly at her.
"Mari?" Kankuro raised a hand to her, reluctant to reach out as he wasn't quite sure what to do, she turned back before he could make up his mind, forcing the small smile on her rosy cheeks as she looked between them.
"My little brothers" She whispered "Mama would be so happy" she sniffled and wiped another tear before it fell. Gaara put a hand to her knee and looked at Kankuro who followed his lead, in a silent agreement, and both looked up at her together. Temari's eyes widened in surprise at the gesture and shut them as she grinned past the tears quick to throw herself forward and hug each of them with an arm. Gaara glanced over at him, through the sandy tuffs of her hair, Kankuro meeting his gaze and they both smiled faintly as they hugged her back.
She sang to them that night, her quiet hum gently lulling each brother to lay beside the other and fall asleep. They had gotten in trouble the next morning, but Temari took the blame without hesitation protecting both brothers from the scolding and getting the rare moment of being together she had always wished for.
The shift in the sand, so small, so faint, so predictable.
Gaara's pace only slowed enough as he used his strength to leap over the movement he had sensed, a pair of arms rising from the golden heated sand to reach for where his body should have been. Unfazed, having felt the shift underground a mile back, he landed and rose to stand straight, tilting his head to look back at the Sand shinobi readying himself with a katana at his back.
One.
Gaara's gaze turned next to the light steps of another who appeared over the dune.
Two.
The next pair turning his attention to the opposite side, each readied with their own weapons and bitter expressions, hatred for him, nothing that surprised him.
Three.
Four.
Not surprised in the least, he shut his eyes and crossed his arms, calm and ready, he knew it would happen, sooner rather than later at least he was safely away from the army, his people, his new allies, his sister, his brother. The warning from the scroll he had been given, from the one who was helping protect them.
Five.
The shift so strong, so furious, so determined.
So, this was the rebellion's idea attempt to strike each of the siblings alone, at least he trusted in his brother and sister enough to defend themselves against the true traitors, he trusted the Leaf even more now to aid them. It was bound to happened, with him weakened, or at least they thought so. This was why he had come to the front after all.
"Lord Kazekage" his title spoken disrespectfully and with such disdain, yet Gaara did not look at his opponent, this resulting in another curt response to his silence "always so calm even when you are faced with death, I'd respect it more had you not been defeated by a rouge group of assassins giving us the chance to finally strike" the mock laugh shadowed by his four companions, how annoying this was. Temari would have laughed by now and propelled them all the way to the sea, Kankuro would have made a snarky comment back and have them ensnared in a puppet, yet he remained quiet, patiently waiting in the trust he gave them.
The trust she gave in him.
"To take out our Kazekage who could barely fight back, how disappointing you have become and this Lord Gaara" another mock of his title, he felt the four shuffle around him, moving into position, expectable "is why your clan must be wiped out, your special little Subakuno family has been worshiped for too long, your people are growing weary of your bloodline and the fear behind it, it's time for new leadership in Suna. We would have done it years ago, but you still had that demon in you" The four settled before he finished speaking and the signs were made, he heard the barrier rise around him, trapping him inside, the subtle drain of his chakra almost boring him, as he thought, they'd weaken him further before striking "Now that you do not have Shukaku inside your feeble body, we have our chance to kill all three of you" a victorious chuckle, Gaara almost sighed, this man sure could talk.
"I hope that our men in the front will take pleasure in killing your brother Kankuro he's been to invested in weeding our own out since your death, but that hasn't gone unnoticed" his arms tightened slightly and he calmed any further movement, with great effort at the mentions, at his continuous spiteful words "and lovely Lady Temari oh how that would be nice to shut her up, look at her thinking a woman can command an army of shinobi and stand in front of the council to demand something, it's just not her place. Temari will die for her insubordination for accepting an alliance against our wishes, just like you Gaara of the Sand" His eyes slowly opened, ghostly blue gaze unforgivingly staring at his own councilman, his once loyal followers, and supporters to his title as Kazekage, his father's previous title, now turned and ready to strike down his command, his village, his family, his new allies. That did not sit well with his promise to do what he could for his people, his love for them.
"Was it you, Hayate?" he asked simply, curious to piece things together, seeing as he was apparently staring death in the face.
"Was it I who tampered with the documents for the alliance?" Hayate chuckled behind the barrier, amused "No, I just happened to be ordered to keep things hidden is all, but know you do not have loyal shinobi among you, you never had them and neither did your father, no wonder he went insane with everything that the Sound put him through, all his fear created you after all" A pause and the man smirked "Rasa died before we could kill him ourselves, and those alliances we looked for after the attack on the Leaf, the seal was tampered with in their village, not ours" Gaara blinked, his only sign of responding as Hayate proceeded "Shame you won't be able to last much longer as the chakra seeps through you Gaara, you've really have changed since your outburst fifteen years ago" The man sighed and shook his head "But we cannot have a repeat of that power ever again, not that you can do much about it now my Lord" Hayate chuckled and looked from his men then back to Gaara "Suna's own nightmare, created to wreak havoc and now when we weaken you for good, you'll be as silent as the wind that blows through the desert" Gaara lowered his arms, his body slowly weakening, but his suspicions answered, same bothersome things just a different day, he almost missed having his brother and sister at his sides shouting back their own taunts at the enemy, would have at least made this more interesting.
"You are aware that this will not work well for you Hayate?" so calmly spoken, hiding the rage and threats to his family inside, that it irritated Hayate to almost shout.
"Whys that? I have you trapped, alone, and weakened what more can I do but fake weeping when I return to Suna to tell the people that you have died tragically, at the hands of the Leaf, well make it look that way, and then there will never be an alliance to seek again" Hayate boosted, so sure of himself, if not overdramatic, so unwise to assume such things Gaara thought.
Six.
Seven.
"You are wrong, I am not alone"
Shikamaru glanced between Hinata and Rock Lee both eyes widened at him, listening intently to his hushed command, his plan. The shock from them was expected, the trust he had been silently asked for was to be given to them, for the good of the nations.
"What's going to happened will affect our future alliance with their nation, and not just that their trust in us, so we have to protect them from their own" Shikamaru's words a severe reminder of who they were protecting, the villages, the innocent, the allies that had been told wrong and betrayed not by them but their own. He barely had time to prepare what he had come up with everything the moment he saw Gaara in the front, the moment the alliances tampering became known, the moment she trusted him. He was just keeping the peace, all while keeping most of his friends in the dark, that thought burning his guilt for years.
"But Shikamaru why are we being split up from the others, why not take a whole unit from the army to help the Kazekage?" Lee stood straight his tone a quiet question, he was anxious, surprising for him, but it was understood. Yesterday the Sand wasn't to be trusted and here he was deploying them to help their once enemies in a time of need.
"I need you two to find the Kazekage in the desert alone, I can't have more people knowing it's too risky" Dark eyes quickly glanced to his side, unheard by the merged troops thankfully "I have a feeling he's going to get into some trouble out there and I need Hinata's byakugan to find him, and your speed Lee if he gets attacked" he glanced between them, Hinata balling her fists to her sides with a determined nod, Lee turning his gaze down as he listened intently, readying in his future fight. he sighed rubbed the back of his neck "we can't let them get killed, so in order for our alliance to work I need you both to help him. This needs to be done discreetly that's why it's only you two"
"Don't worry Shikamaru we can handle this" Hinata nodded and turned to Lee when he raised a fist in determination.
"Yes, Hinata is right we will protect our allies with our lives" Lee whisper shouted, eyes shining yet serious.
"Thank you both, but you have to hurry and go, and don't let anyone see you" he warned, his tone so calm and stance so relaxed one would think they were having a pleasant conversation "split off from Neji's unit as soon as you can" They nodded firmly to him and turned to leave "One more thing, he'll want to come back here and I want you to let him, follow his orders once he is safe understood?" They nodded again "We are going to end this once and for all" He looked over to the cliffs edge, the Sand command turned away showing her two students the battlefield and with a sigh he slipped his hands into his pockets and walked over to the three.
Kankuro didn't shut his eyes, that would be cowardly of a shinobi, watching every inch of the blade rush forward heading straight for him, but before he could move the puppet shot to the side, a growling dual whirlwind crashing into the cliff, the audible sound of wood splinting and cracking echoing in the suspenseful silence. Jun gasped and turned to watch the pair of shinobi spring back from the puppet shattered by the cliff side, each coming to stand by Kankuro's sides. Kiba growled claws raised, beside him his twin disappeared in a cloud of smoke revealing Akamaru readying his stance, snarling at their opponent, the true traitor.
"You know I really hate puppets" he glanced back at Kankuro with a smug smirk "thought you were some kinda of master Clown" Kiba snickered turning back when Kankuro glared at him, registering the insult after the shock he had at the sudden appearance, disappeared to make way for a counter.
"What the hell are you doing here Dog?" When Kiba looked away to their opponent he spoke
"Saving your ass" Kankuro grinned slightly, turns out Temari had been right to tell him not to attack the Leaf, damn it she was always right.
"What now? You're probably out of chakra after fighting the rest of those Rock shinobi" Returning his gaze to Jun, he spoke while mocking his savor, after all he wasn't exactly a trusted ally to him, but he did save him from certain death, so he'd at least try to be nice.
"Well, you might be right" Kiba stepped back as Jun was joined by a group of five each bloodied by their own fights, their own betrayals. Kankuro raised his hand from his arm looking between the men, the shinobi that used to be on his side each raising a weapon ready themselves to kill.
"What's your plan?" he muttered to Kiba who grinned sheepishly glancing back almost timidly, Akamaru whining as he looked back as well.
"Well protecting you was the plan, but right now not too sure I think you were right; I don't have the chakra for this" Kankuro groaned, not the smartest ally he thought. His eyes narrowed back at Jun, a sudden buzz causing him to still and look at his shoulder, a bug. He grimaced at the sight as the small wings flapped open and the beetle began to buzz before his face. Kiba turned back hearing the light flap of its wings and grinned "Well guess that's the plan then" Confused Kankuro glared at Kiba as he turned to look to their side.
"What are you talking about?" He followed the gaze beside him to the silent figure standing on the boulder, the one he called creepy, his eyes hidden behind the shades and an arm slowly raising while the beetle before Kankuro floating over to its master's call.
"Shino!" Kiba called out, laughing "How'd you find us man?"
"I left a female on Kankuro earlier when you two were arguing" he muttered his explanation quietly, stoic as his head slightly lowered to look at the three, Kankuro shuddered at the thought that he had the bug on him since the dispute earlier "I thought you had it handled Kiba"
"Well, sorta" he rubbed the back of his head looking thoughtful "but like Shikamaru said he suspected more than just a few to turn" Kankuro quickly shot a look to Kiba, shocked that they knew, who grinned smugly back at his surprise "What did you really think we were just gonna let you die?" He barked a laugh "We got new orders sent this morning, seems like you can't even trust your own shinobi Clown" The Leaf's commander sent them to help him, how had he not figured it out sooner, he wondered quickly if Temari knew what was happening, unless she somehow was involved. Only they knew about the warning to watch out for the rebels during the battle, as to not alarm them that he, Temari, and Baki knew they were among their ranks. Since Gaara's death, Suna had been spreading with rumors of his weakness, although many more were relieved in his quick comeback, suggested by Baki to show the people that he was alive and well, to hopefully settle the unease of the village. It worked for a few months but turns out there were more than a few who had taken the opportunity to start an uprising against them, and during the battle against the Earth as cover. In his shock he barely registered the buzzing intensify as a swarm left the outstretched arm of Shino towards his revolting shinobi.
"What is that?" one of them called out stepping back as the shadow of the swarm hovered over them, Jun looked up gapping and turned to run, signaling the swarm to dive down and cover over the six turned Sand shinobi, the screaming from the attack filling the silence.
"Alright Shino!" Kiba threw his fist in the air, celebrating the win, Akamaru barking and wagging his tail beside him. Kankuro smirked and looked down eyes shut, thankful for the save from the allies.
"Damn it Temari I should really listen to you more" he muttered under his breath and looked at Goro's lifeless body lying before him. He stepped past Kiba and crouched beside his old friend "You were a good man Goro always had my back since I got here, rest easy" he kept his tone low and rose to stand looking back at the two, his hand coming to his wound to observe it, to keep the blood from seeping out even more he tore his sleeve and began to wrap it messily around the cut, the ache there but ignored, while speaking he began to walk off "Listen up if they got to me, means they got to Temari I'm going over to the main legions unit now, you two stay here" the sudden sight of the white beast at his side making him flinch back, stopping his departure.
"Wait up will you we're coming too" Kiba jogged to get to Akamaru's side and patted his canine companion, before jumping to his back with a grin.
"Why? This fight isn't meant for the Leaf its between me and my people" he looked confused between the three before him, they were not budging and ready to follow him, he wasn't sure what to do or why they wanted to help, but he had a notion the Leaf commander was a part of this, hell maybe even Temari, he didn't know what to think at this point.
"Damn I saved your life and you wanna ditch us" Kiba mocked and put a hand to his chest with a gasp as if insulted "kinda a jerk move you know" he snickered when Kankuro snorted.
"Please I could have saved myself, I was just going to do it in the last second" Kankuro grumbled.
"Actually, I saved you both" Shino walked to Kiba's side, ignored by the two glaring shinobi, facing away as he scanned the quiet area around them, the battle below ongoing but quieter, the battle above finished.
"Just stay here and make sure everyone makes it I don't need you guys slowing me down" Kankuro ordered and turned to leave irritated to have to keep talking, but Kiba and Akamaru coming to his side stopped him.
"No way, I've got orders" Kiba put a thumb in his chest "and I'm not about to break them cause you wanna be some lone wolf hero, we are coming with you and that's that" Kankuro stilled for a moment, wanting to argue but something wasn't letting him.
"Fine but keep up will you I don't want to have to drag you guys around" he faked a groan of annoyance instead, thankful deep down he wasn't alone, and started to rush off, behind him two shinobi and a dog following.
What will happened next!