A/N: Thanks so much Catsmeowwh44! It makes me so happy that you like my story! T.T hugs back

Now, to the story!

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"Who are you?" demanded Sunome, still frightened, yet defensive.

"We are the Hunter-nins from the Hidden Village of Sand," answered one of the cloaked figures. "Here to annihilate Sabaku No Gaara."

'Annihilate Gaara?' Sunome thought, 'But he hasn't done anything wrong…'

"What the hell did he do?" she asked, feeling totally defensive.

"This is of no concern to you, little girl," was all he answered. "Step aside as we remove that treacherous monster, standing by you."

"Like hell I will," she said, feeling a hint of anger. 'How dare they call Gaara a monster!' she thought, clenching her teeth.

"Go home, Sunome," Gaara said, his arms crossed. He didn't want her to get hurt, as odd as it felt. He hadn't known this girl for long, yet he felt protective of her. He didn't quite understand these feelings yet, but now was not the time.

"I'll handle them."

"No way," she said. "There's like…" she counted, "Eight Hunters…like I'm going to let you take them on by yourself."

"Just go," Gaara said, "I can take care of them."

"No," she replied.

'Stubborn girl,' Gaara thought, clenching his fists.

"You'll only get in the way," he said, getting his sand out.

"That's what you think," she said, getting angry.

"So be it girl," the Hunter said, abruptly. "Yoshi! Kisho! Tanaka! You three get the girl. The rest of us will deal with Gaara."

"Hai!" all seven men said, before charging at their opponents.

'This isn't good,' Gaara thought. He was hoping they would go for him…and leave Sunome alone.

Sunome, on the other hand, already started her attacks. 'Thinks I'll only be in the way, eh?' she thought.

"Mizu bushin no jutsu (Water Clone)!" she yelled, as six water clones appeared by her side. Running, two clones took on each Hunter, but were easily defeated.

"Don't take us so lightly little girl," said Kisho, running at full speed at her.

"Don't worry," she replied, "I won't." As the men neared her, she jumped into the air and threw her own shurikens at them. The shurikens were easily deflected and the three men also jumped, taking their kunais out. Each one slashed at her, from a different angle. But what came out was not blood, rather water.

"A clone?" said Yoshi.

Taking the chance, as everyone is vulnerable in the air; Sunome jumped from the earthy ground and threw shurikens, once again.

"Kuso!" one said, as the shurikens met with his and the other Nins bodies. Falling back to the ground, they held their wounded areas.

"Heh, looks like we underestimated you as well," Tanaka said, clutching his bleeding arm. "We won't make that mistake again." As all three of the men ran in circles around her, two of them quickly grabbed each of her arms. The other one, Yoshi, went straight for her, fist pulled back.

'Fuck, this isn't….' she started to think, before Yoshi's fist met with her stomach.

Gaara, glanced at Sunome, who had just made her water clones. 'Looks like she can take care of herself,' he thought. Quickly returning his concentration on his own opponents, his sand had just finished covering him. As the other Nins neared, they threw needles at him. The sand rose to protect him, but the needles were so thin, that their ends were lightly touching his clothes.

'Damn, this isn't good,' he thought.

"Suna No Tate (Shield of Sand)!" Gaara whispered, as the Hunters threw their needles, once again.

"That shield won't last for long," a Nin said.

'I know it won't last,' Gaara thought. He planned on using Bakuryu Ryusa (Desert Avalanche) to finish it quickly, but that would endanger Sunome. 'I guess Sabaku Sousou (Desert Graveyard) will have to do.' He thought.

Still in his shield, he gathered the rest of his sand toward the Nins. Unfortunately, the Nins noticed it, and quickly backed off.

"We are not that easy to fool, Gaara," said one of the Hunters. Once again they charged at him, this time, using hand seals.

"Katon housenka No jutsu (Fire element, phoenix fire)!" they shouted in unison.

As the five flames neared Gaara, the shield quickly rose, protecting him again. Untouched, Gaara only felt the heat of the flames.

"Sabaku Sousou (Desert Graveyard)!" he said, as the men jumped from using the jutsu.

Trying to outrun the sand, they had no luck as it slithered and wrapped itself around their legs.

"Kuso!" a Hunter yelled in frustration, kicking and trying to shake the thing off.

Smirking, Gaara dropped his shield, and then raised his hands, chest high.

"I thought you would be of more entertainment, then my assassins," he said to the Nins.

As he closed his fists, he heard a girl scream….Sunome's scream.

As Yoshi punched her in the stomach, Sunome's knees buckled as she coughed up blood. The other Nins still held her arms, so she didn't fall to the ground.

"Release her," Yoshi said. Obediently, the two others let go and stood by him, letting Sunome fall to ground. Clutching her stomach, she coughed more blood, before trying to stand.

"We gave you a chance to live, girl," Tanaka said, slowly taking steps back. "Now you must die."

As he made his hand seals, Sunome gave an outraged scream….loud and ragged.

"Katon goukakyuu no jutsu (Fire element, grand fireball)!"

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A/N: I hope that chapter wasn't too awful….I must apologize, if it is. I know that typing fighting scenes are terribly hard, and truthfully, I never saw the Hunter-nins coming. I guess it kind of popped into my head. So, gomen if it was a terrible chapter….I'll try and do a better one on the next chapter. Hope the cliffhanger is good though…. .

Also, I won't be updating as frequently...until November. That is because my Grandmother from S. Korea is coming to visit. I have to spend time with her, so that gives me less time on the computer. Sorry for that, but I'll try and update as soon as I can.