Sands of Time, Winds of Change (3)
DunDUNDUN
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Two days later, the team had made it almost one third of the way to Suna. They were tired, and Naruto was going crazy from Ramen withdrawal.
"NEEED. RAAAMEN." Naruto said, foaming at the mouth and twitching.
"Naruto. Stop being so troublesome. We finished the Ramen yesterday. Get over it!" Shikamaru said with a glower. Kiba and Choji stared at Shikamaru. Even he seemed to be on edge.
"Maybe we should stop at a town for food." Neji said to Shikamaru. He shook his head.
"We can last at least a day without food." At this, Choji choked on a chip that he had found in his pocket. He fell to the ground twitching. "We need to get to Suna before the Ryuu destroy Konoha." He said.
"Shikamaru, we need to rest. We won't make it if we don't have energy."
"We won't make it if we don't keep moving!" He snapped. He was angry, and he usually never got angry. But this was 'Mission Shikamaru', not 'Lazy Shikamaru who doesn't give a shit'. "Do you want Konoha to be gone when we get back? Our friends and families dead? Everyone we ever cared about gone, and you don't know if you'll ever even see them again, in this lifetime or the next!" He said in a low voice.
"Look, sorry Shikamaru—"
"Forget it. It's too troublesome." He said, calming down a bit. Naruto stared at him carefully. 'Shikamaru isn't usually like this...but then again, he was always a mystery...The day we found out he was a genius, his leadership skills in the face of danger...he always come through for us. He won't stop now.'
Shikamaru lay down and stared up at the stars. Naruto sat and wondered what really went on inside Shikamaru's head. He was just staring up with a thoughtful...was it sad! face, and closed his eyes after a while. Naruto assumed he was sleeping. The others lay down mats they carried on their backs and went to sleep also. Naruto decided to do the same.
---
The next day, Shikamaru woke to the sound of rustling. His team was packing up, getting ready to get on the road again. Shikamaru smiled. He seemed to be in a better mood. "We can stop in the next town for food. It would be too troublesome to deal with you if you were hungry." Everyone nodded, too tired to do anything else. They hopped on Akamaru and took off.
After about three hours, they came across a small town on the very edge of the forest, before you enter Suna lands. They got some strange tasting food and went on their way again. Suddenly they came into Suna. The town was quiet. None of them had ever been there before, so they didn't know what to expect.
"I wonder if something's going on?" Naruto said with a shrug. Wind whistled through the light colored buildings, and sand danced along the windows. The sun beat down upon them.
"We should go straight to Gaara. He's the Kazekage; he's bound to help us." Neji said. Shikamaru nodded.
"I'm assuming that's the Kazekage's Palace?" Shikamaru said, pointing to a large tower-like castle of whirling sand. The others nodded. They passed through a large arch. People were lining the streets. They looked up.
On a castle ledge was Gaara, currently addressing Suna. Beside him was Kankuru, dressed in long purple robes. Suddenly someone screamed, pointing straight at them.
"INTRUDERS!" Shikamaru was taken aback as several sandnin began to junmp towards them. Five of them got a hold of the team, each taking their hands behind their backs.
"HEY! GET OFF! I'M AN EXPERIENCED FIGHTER FROM KONOHA, BELIEVE IT!"
"No! Don't take Akamau!"
"NO! NOT THE LAST POTATO CHIP TOO! WHY!"
"Let us go, now!"
"What is this?" Shikamaru growled. He launched a well-aimed kick at his captor, breaking free. He took out three shuriken and held them in his hands. He looked around. "We're here to speak to the Kazekage!" One of the sandnin smirked.
"Oh, you'll be seeing HIM reeeeal soon." And with that, black entered Shikamaru's vision.
---
Shikamaru blinked his eyes open to see himself tied up, in front of a huge throne of sand. Sitting there was Gaara, who looked displeased.
"Now that you're all awake...what are you doing here unauthorized?" He asked slowly.
"We're here to ask for help in Konoha. A new village has attacked, leaving Konoha in deep trouble." Shikamaru said, with a small wince. His hands were tied so tightly that the rope was burning his wrists.
"We are no longer Konoha's allies." Gaara said.
"WHAT!" All of the team said in unison.
"But you guys helped us so much, and we helped you! You came to our meetings and—"
"We no longer go to Konoha. You should know we haven't attended Konoha meetings in more than a year or so."
"C'mon Gaara! We need your help!" Naruto said. Gaara frowned.
"Naruto?"
"Believe it!" Naruto said. Gaara let out a small smile, but it wasn't a happy one.
"You of all people should know that Konoha has been assassinating many of our own ninjas. We stopped going to the meetings after we found a shuriken engraved with the symbol of Konoha on it next to a Konoha headband by one of the dead."
"That's a lie!" Shikamaru growled. "We would never do such a thing!"
"All evidence points to Konoha." Gaara said. Suddenly the door was thrust open.
"Sorry I'm late, Gaara. I was taking a nap." A blonde-haired girl with four ponytails sticking out of her head entered the room, addressing Gaara. She was wearing a long purple kimono with a steel breastplate and fishnet material covering part of her legs.
"I told you, call me Kazekage!" Gaara growled. Shikamaru's eyes widened.
"Temari!"
---
Lalalalala.
WudaiMarsWind
