Chapter 8
Bitter Blood

Months passed since the unexpected arrival of the Ishigakure ninja to Suna.

In their quest to hunt down the last of the Yamamori bloodline, they were promptly defeated by the jinchuriki that dwelled within that the desert village. Embarrassed by the botched mission of capture, Ishi once again disappeared into the shadows of obscurity as the other lands pondered the reasoning for their recent abrasive actions. First Yamagakure was sacked and burned to the ground, then a girl from Suna was taken their captive - although only briefly. No doubt the daimyo of the Land of Claws would make the Ishi chieftain answer for their crimes, but if it were to remain bloodless remained a question.

The surrounding lands could only hope - war was the last thing they wanted.

As her life returned to its new 'normal', Nomasaki continued her training with her goal in mind. I will be strong, she told herself, I will be strong enough - and I will find him. Whether he was living or dead, she was determined to find her father no matter the cost. Family was everything. Becoming a kunoichi was not her life plan, but she accepted the path with an open mind and a willing heart. She trained every day alone with Hanone in the dunes littered with cacti, learning how to harness the wind-release jutsu her clan once practiced. Team Hashira completed mission after mission. Ranging from D-ranks to help merchants transport water from the far-off oasis to C-ranks protecting travellers from highwaymen and bandits, her and her teammates formed their bond through teamwork and lended each other a helping-hand when needed. Hashira-sensei was a proud instructor, to say the least - despite the snide comments Shinto felt brave enough to speak aloud, before being hushed by Meiyumi. Nomasaki would not have wanted it any other way. For the first time in a long time, she felt as if she had a home again. And now that Hanone was once again at her side, she felt her life was complete - for a time.

After stepping outside one morning, she found herself summoned by her sensei to meet with her teammates concerning a potential new assignment. There were rumours amongst the genin about the council sending teams off on B-ranks, an exciting yet dangerous frontier for a rookie. Nomasaki hoped that was not the case. She had enough excitement for a while, that was for certain. Curious as to what it was, the fourteen-year-old genin made her way down the sand-riddled village streets to their decided meeting place. Dogs barked at her heels as she walked, snipping at her ankles on a crowded street and growling defensively. She hated dogs. Their smell stood out to her like a sore thumb and she despised the way they yapped. Feeling her blood boil, she whipped her towards them with her face partially morphed. Her jagged fangs and snarl made them whimper in fear, their tails trembling between their legs before they ran off. Shaking her head, her face returned to normal in an instant, and an unfamiliar smirk of satisfaction found itself on her lips. Seeing the dumpling shop within the central plaza, she could already see her teammates waiting for her. As they waved her over, she ran to meet them at the outside table.

With wide eyes from her sensei's words, she sat before her team in the small shop – surprised at the proposed assignment.

"C... Chunin Exams?"

"Hashira-sensei!" Meiyumi beamed excitedly. "Do you really mean it?"

"Yeah," He nodded, smiling before his pupils. "I believe you three are ready. You may be rookies, but you're all surpassing our expectations in your recent C-ranks. With your consent, I'll relay the confirmation to the Suna Council and we can begin the journey to Kumogakure for next week."

"Kumogakure?" Shinto groaned, dismayed. "That far? Why can't Suna just host them? It would be easier if they were here."

"Being that our village made the mistake of invading Konoha last year during the exam period, it was decided in our peace agreement that we abstain from hosting for another year or two. Kumo is willing to host the exams this round, being that Konoha is adjusting to their new Fifth Hokage, Tsunade-sama taking office." Their sensei replied. "Although, only Kumo, Kiri, and we of Suna are participating. It will be a smaller exam compared to other years. But don't let that fool you – the exam will probably be the most difficult assignment you've had to date! In the Chunin Exams, it can be a matter of life and certain death."

Taking aback by the mention of death, Shinto flinched in his seat for a moment, startled at the seriousness of it all. "The exams must be brutal, huh?"

"Brutal, yes. Your survival skills and tactical skills will be assessed at length, and if you're up to the standards set by your respective village – you earn the title 'Chunin'."

"How long do we have to make a decision?" Meiyumi asked, excited and nervous about the offer. "If we're going to take the exam, I mean."

"You have until morning," Hashira turned to her, a friendly smile on his young face. "Thanks to the failed invasion of Konoha, Suna is low on shinobi so participating in the exams is an urgent matter." Turning to face all three of his students, he gave them a stern, dutiful glance from his green eyes. "I want the three of you to come to your own decisions on this. The exams will be tough and it's potentially a great sacrifice to make as a shinobi." His expression softening, he gave a light smile as he directed his attention to each of his young genin. "Meiyumi, your medical skills are a major contribution to the team's success rate and your taijutsu is excellent. Shinto, your genjutsu is well executed and earth-release is your best bet for offence."

When Nomasaki saw his glance turning towards her, she grew nervous of what he might say. Compared to her teammates, she was not a healer – she lacked the chakra control and patience for medical ninjutsu – and she certainly was not a genjutsu user like Shinto. Equipped with only her Kekkei Genkai and scarce wind-release jutsu, her abilities were limited to hand-to-hand combat. And she was still able to be the subject of a kidnapping only months ago by fiends of an enemy territory. I was weak, she convinced herself, The weakest link in the chain. Expecting the impending criticism, she braced herself for impact, her lilac eyes gleaming with nervousness.

"Nomasaki," Hashira smiled. "You've grown the most. You started off timid and frightened – here, you stand with superb sensory skills and swift close-combat. Your wind-release is fine-tuned, possibly the best of the rookie genin."

Surprised by his words, her eyes widened.

"Let me know your responses tomorrow at the village gates. I'll see you all then."

"Yes, sensei!"

Within a darkened room inside of the Kazekage's residence, the infamous Sand Siblings were greeted by their stern-faced sensei. Baki had grown tired and stretched thin due to his new council position, aging him well beyond his years. He seldom seen combat since the Konoha invasion, and he was vying for a chance to break from his burdens. But duty beckoned him, so he restrained himself. Standing before them in the chamber with his arms crossed against his chest, he eyed the three siblings with a stern yet smug expression on his veiled face.

"Chunin Exams again?"

"I expect the three of you to represent Sunagakure with superior strength and skill," Baki replied, turning to Kankuro who sat on the worn couch before him. His purple markings were absent in his current state of downtime, having been exhausted from the A-rank they completed only hours ago. "Being that you are the top genin the village has to offer, there is no reason for you three to be absent." Glancing at the three Kazekage children, he gave a stern look from his narrowed eyes. "The last Chunin Exam was a failure on our account… Shukaku was defeated by a genin, the Third Hokage was killed, and our own Kazekage was murdered in cold treachery by Orochimaru. Our village became a laughingstock amongst the Five Great Nations. This is our opportunity to change that. You will all take part in these exams and become Chunin, and repair Suna's ravaged reputation in the eyes of the foreigners."

Her green eyes narrowing at the proposition, Temari grew suspicious of the upcoming exams. She was still on edge from the last encounter with the event, and she had good reason to uphold her suspicions. Although Suna's relationship with Konoha was repaired in recent months, their relations with the other villages were still highly strained. "I'm surprised there's no hidden motive by the higher-ups," She began. "Is there a catch?"

"No," Baki answered. "These exams are being held in Kumogakure, with Kumo, Kiri, and us from Suna taking part. However, in order to participate, we had to let on that the Fourth Kazekage is still alive – when in reality the Suna Council will be delegating the final results and decide on the Chunin promotions after the testing."

"You mean to tell us that farce is still going on? He was our father! He's dead! Why can't we let the rest of the world know?"

Baki's face angered. "Because the council has yet to decide a Kazekage. It will be at least a year until we have enough suitable candidates... and don't forget - the position relies on your bloodline to remain stable. The village has no other choice."

Directing his attention to the silent sibling who stood against the corner of the hallway, he locked eyes with Gaara – the source of their strength and failure during the last exams in Konoha. Knowing that he was able to successfully suppress his tailed-beast's urges for release on the mission to rescue the outsider, he was beginning to have more trust in the young jinchuriki – the young man destined to be the next Kazekage of the village by his bloodline. It all rests with him and if he decides, Baki thought reluctantly, These exams will test it.

"Gaara," He began, catching the attention of his ringed seafoam eyes. "You will be the strongest genin taking this exam, and the only jinchuriki participating. I expect nothing but success from you. Anything less is a failure. Understood?"

His expression calm and collected, Gaara nodded, understanding the weight of his decision. "Yes."

Despite his calm exterior, he knew the upcoming exams would be crucial in him gaining the necessary honor and respect from the Suna Council and his comrades. Unlike the last exams where he was used as a weapon of terror, he was going to use his newly-tuned abilities from Shukaku to make the most of things and show everyone he was ready to take the next step towards achieving his one goal – to one day become the Kazekage of the village. Although in his birthright, he was still determined to show his peers that he did indeed change from the cold, sociopathic jinchuriki to the calm and even-tempered shinobi who harnessed a tailed-beast. The upcoming exams were a fresh start.

"The exams are in a week," Baki continued, turning to the three of them. "Because of my new duties on the council, I'm unable to make the journey. I trust you three are able to find Kumo alone."

"Baki-sama," Temari scoffed to herself. "Surely you can have more faith in us. Like you said before, these exams are different. We're not trying to stage a coup this time, so it should be simple."

"Always the sharp tongue, Temari…" Kankuro sighed with a slight smirk. "It hasn't even been a year…"

"That aside," Baki finished. "I'll be seeing you after the exams when you're all Chunin." Within the shadows of the chamber, their sensei stepped out to the hall. Pausing in the doorway, he turned and gestured to the corridor. "Gaara," As the silent jinchuriki followed him into the hall, the door shut behind them. "I trust you understand the gravity of your position before the elders. As we discussed months back, that incident with Ishigakure had you on thin ice. For these exams, it will likely decide your fate in the face of the village. Have you made your decision?"

Averting his glance in unsure thought, sorrow entered his eyes. "No, I haven't... I'm still mulling it over."

"If you value your village and its people, I suggest you decide sooner than later. You may be a jinchuriki, but Rasa's blood flows in your veins."

Rasa's blood. The mention of the name irked him, with Shukaku stirring silently. "I understand that. It's just... I've done so much hurt. How can the village possibly forgive me?"

"By being our Kazekage." Baki answered. "I'll leave you to your thoughts. After these exams, I expect you to have made your decision."

In an instant, his sensei disappeared through the Teleportation Jutsu. Alone in the estate's corridor, Gaara was beside himself with his thoughts and Shukaku's silent stirs. By being our Kazekage, he thought, Would the village accept me as that?

He found himself without an answer.

The sun waned as the afternoon faded into evening.

Beckoned by the normal troops for his final assignment before the exams, Gaara started down the silent alleyway as he made his way towards the village cliffs. While the silent hum of the village voices danced on the hot desert air, the thoughts of the upcoming exams entered his mind. He had to do anything he could to succeed, but above all else – he knew he had to do it without Shukaku. The memories of the last Chunin Exams haunted him now, the shadow of his past self-burgeoning in the back of his mind while he strived to change who he was for the better. Aside from his strength, he did manage to form a new relationship with his siblings and exert a promising presence in the politics of Suna for his young age. Desperately, he wanted redemption for what he once was in his past – a ruthless, loveless monster. Aiding Konoha against the Otogakure ninja following the defection of Uchiha Sasuke was his first major course of redemption. The second was sparing the life of the strange-eyed foreigner who he found unconscious on the desert sands.

The wolf.

Was he truly a good person - had he changed? While his glance narrowed towards the path at his feet, he found himself asking those questions over and over in his mind.

"Go back to where you came from... you filthy-blooded freak!"

"Yeah! Suna doesn't allow just anyone to live here. Especially monsters like you!"

"I live here. Please leave me alone."

Catching his attention, Gaara turned towards the three figures he saw quarrelling in the distance. Corned by two taunting genin, Nomasaki stood with a furrow in her brow and her fists clenched lightly at her sides. Since she became a kunoichi, there have been instances where she received the unwanted glares from those passing by her in the village – from elders and youth alike. Her strangely colored eyes conveyed her outsider heritage, making her a walking target for discrimination against her birth circumstance. Her balled fists contained her growing rage, suppressing her rising wolfish anger that boiled inside. The more she met their glares, the more she wanted to lash out at them – rightfully so.

"Why would our village let someone like you even become a shinobi?" One of the genin scoffed, crossing his arms against his chest. "You must be a spy."

"A foreigner with eyes like those," The other mocked, gesturing to her glaring expression. "Look at how weird your eyes are! You sure you're not sick?"

"She's not sick, she's inbred. Wolves mate with their siblings, or so I've heard."

"I'm not an inbred." She spat through her gnashed teeth, her canines growing pronounced. "Take it back."

Mockingly, the brown-haired boy pointed towards her, looking her up and down as a smug smirk appeared on his lips. "Everyone knows that about the clan-system. That's why it's not practiced in Suna – because we hate abominations! Your clan is no exception. Anyone from a clan is guaranteed to be a product of incest, that's how they protect their Kekkei Genkai." He leaned in closer to her, exerting a more threatening presence by his height over her stature. "You're just a sick purple-eyed freak!"

"She probably can't see with weird eyes like those," The other genin joined in. "Are you blind, freak? Can you even see?"

"The only thing my eyes can see in front of me are two ignorant jerks."

Angered, the brown-haired genin before her flinched from her barked words. Cocking his fist, he gnashed his teeth in rage, preparing to strike. "Why you...!"

Startling them, his fist struck a swift wall of sand - erected between them in the alleyway as if in a moment. Its grains were as solid as steel, the boy's knuckles striking it in full force with a faint rumble. Pain jolting through his palm, he pulled away, the bloodied print of his fist ingrained onto the shield of sand. Grasping his arm, he briefly examined the reddened color of his hand as the tiny droplets of crimson fell to the ground below. Frustrated, he grit his teeth as he turned to see who stood behind them – interrupting his strike of anger. Gaara. Stern-eyed, the young jinchuriki stood silently in the alleyway, his sand returning towards him and ready at his side. Surprised, Nomasaki turned towards him, sensing his familiar chakra enter her senses.

Panicked, the other genin turned to his friend. "Let's get out of here," He whispered. "This guy is bad news... He's the jinchuriki...!"

"Damn it...! Alright," Before fleeing from the scene, the brown-haired genin gave her a final glare as he and his friend retreated to the village's center. Turning as he ran, he gave her a dirty look. "Watch your back, inbred-outsider!"

Watching them flee, she felt a wave of relief come over her, her growing feral anger receding as she saw their backs fade into the crowds in the hazy distance. Catching her attention, she heard his footsteps crunch in the sand as he paused before her. Meeting his gaze, she turned to face him – the first time since he rescued her from her near fatal capture months earlier.

"Did they hurt you?" He asked, his calm voice containing a hint of concern.

"No," She shook her head. "I'm alright, but... thanks."

While the sand beside him retreated back into his gourd, he examined the pain he could plainly see upon her calm exterior. She was good at hiding it, he thought to himself. Just as he was victimized by some of the villagers, she also faced the same fate. Remembering the words she spoke to him on the night they first met, he understood everything that was painted on her expression – they were the same.

Timidly, she averted her saddening glance from his that late afternoon, trying to mask it with a light smile of embarrassment. "I've had worse. Although, it has been getting better since I moved here. Well... immigrated, I mean."

"I'm sorry to hear that," He replied. "You don't deserve it."

"Oh," She jolted, looking up to him as her timidness coated her soft tone. "T-Thank you. That's... kind of you."

Kind, he thought – the word surprising him as it left her lips.

Not once had he been referred to as such.

Stepping in to protect her from the harassment of the two genin, he did it only to help without asking of anything in return – is that was being 'kind' was? Turning away from him, she made her way towards the stairs alongside the clay wall of the building beside them. Pausing upon its first few steps, she gave him a friendly-natured smile.

"I have to go. Thanks again... for what you did back there."

As he watched her brief smile fade as she disappeared upon the clay stairwell, his ringed-eyes looked on in a new sense of empathy. Just as he thought that night when they first met, she was definitely different than the others – and for that, she was also punished. Whether she be a wolf or not, she endured the lashings of others for simply who she was – just as he was for being a jinchuriki. While he resumed his path towards the village exit, he thought of her as he embarked on his final mission as a genin – hoping she would be left alone by those cruel genin from earlier.

As the blinding desert sun began to set in the far distance, Nomasaki stood upon the rooftop of her apartment complex with her summon before her – eager to tell him about the day's exciting news, her expression masking the pain she endured only hours ago. As she explained the upcoming exams to the great wolf who sat upon the clay floor, Hanone listened with eyes tinted with regret and sorrow – while his jaws remained silent and submissive. As he watched her eager expression and beaming lilac eyes, he thought about what could have been – she was never meant to become a shinobi. If only they stayed in the great northern mountains, would she ever be able to have a normal life. However, her destiny was forever changed by the invaders who destroyed their village in fire.

Finally, he brought himself to speak. "You're going through with it, then?"

"I'm… not completely sure yet," She answered, looking down at her feet. Gathering her courage, she gave the wolf a timid and light smile – thinking of her teammates and new friends she had in the desert village. "But I want to support my team as a kunoichi of Suna! So I guess... I am."

"And you're certain of it?"

She nodded, smiling proudly. "I am."

He turned away, resting his head on his outstretched paws. "Then I will not take part in this human-affair... I refuse to be summoned to such a farce."

"But what if I need you? I know I've been training with you near everyday, but still... these exams might be dangerous." She pressed, her eyes concerned and averted in doubt. "I know you don't fully approve of my choice to stay here, but this is my home now. Yamagakure is gone. I'm a shinobi of Suna now, I'm a kunoichi." Hearing her answer made his guilt-ridden gaze obvious to her – catching her immediate curiosity. As she looked into Hanone's beastly yellow pupils, she could feel the sorrow and frustration contained within his gaze – surprising her and worrying her at the same time. "What is it?"

"You've changed since you left Yama," He spoke through his jaws. "As much as I hate to admit it... You're becoming more like him."

She raised a brow. "Like who?"

"That bastard father of yours," He growled, his beastly eyes narrowing towards her. "The man who abandoned you and your mother years ago…!"

Shocked, her eyes widened. "Abandoned? Hanone, what do you mean? I thought he was dead –,"

"No, he's not. He's alive... I know it."

"He's… He's alive?" She asked, stunned. Her worst thought defeated, she found herself growing warmed. Her father was alive after all these years. He was alive. Alive. "Mother would never tell me about him, only that he was from an outside village." Stepping closer towards the wolf, her expression could hardly contain her newfound excitement. "How do you know for sure? Can you help me find him? I want to meet him. There's so much I want to ask him!"

Averting his gaze, the beast turned its head towards the setting sun – remembering the rage and contempt he felt from that man and his actions. "I wouldn't search for him if I were you… because you'd only be disappointed in the end."

"It's my father!" She argued, excitedly. "I have to meet him! I–,"

"He abandoned you!" He snarled, snapping his jaws towards her – jolting her in her stance. Her eyes wide from his words, she felt her heart sink into her chest. Abandoned. Shocked and in stunned silence, she flinched from the words her wolf spoke. The man who was her father abandoned her. "Your father left upon finding out he sired a wolf and married a monster. He discovered your clan's Kekkei Genkai and was disgusted… he left the mountains after you were born and was never heard from again."

"He… Why did he think that…?" She stammered, her eyes glistening. "No, that... can't be true. Did he really think… we were monsters?"

"He left Yama with his tail between his legs…" Hanone growled under his breath. "All the way back… to Sunagakure."

She felt as if her heart froze in her chest.

As she felt the harsh chill from his words, a brisk desert wind blew past her, swaying her gold hair against her wide and wet violet eyes. The world around her crumbled until it was nothing. She wanted to be strong - but she felt as if she were not strong enough to deal with the truth. Unable to process the reality she was given, she stood in quiet shock as she slowly came to terms with the irony of her parentage.

She was of the sand.

After her mother refused to share any details of her father's identity, she discovered that her father was a ninja of Sunagakure – something that she recently became herself. Her drive to become a kunoichi had been tainted. If she became a shinobi, she would become like him. Like him. Although amazed and relieved that her father was alive, it greatly pained her that he may never want anything to do with her – believing that his lover and child were descended from monsters of the far north.

Beasts.

What hurt her even more was the realization of her heritage, her wolf blood mixed with that of a desert-dweller – a man of Suna, the village where she took refuge after her mountain village was destroyed. As she thought of the harsh glares from her superiors and villagers who seen her as an outsider, she wondered if prejudice was also in her blood. Were all from Suna the same, in that respect? Was she just another monster to them, after she became one of their own? Did the village know who she belonged to and saw her as the bastard-born monster? Did her teammates secretly despise her despite their amicable teamwork and friendships? Those were questions she could hardly ask herself. Bitterly, she averted her saddened glare, biting her lip to keep her emotions contained.

"S-Sunagakure? H... He's from... No... -," She stammered, quietly. "After all this time? It can't be... You're wrong!"

"That's the truth. If you truly want to seek him out, by all means search for him," Hanone snarled bitterly, averting his gaze from her shocked and saddened eyes. Standing up, the wolf slowly approached her – glaring into her pained lilacs. "But I won't be helping you. I can't forgive him for what he's done to you… or your mother. She died with a broken heart, all because of his prejudice." Turning away from her, he started for the edge of the rooftop – the cool desert air ruffling his coat of snow-white fur. "You've become a shinobi of Suna… following in his footsteps. I wonder… Will you continue down the path you have chosen?" Stepping onto the worn orange shingles of the rooftop, the wolf glared back at her as he paused. "…and stay away from that one… He's a threat. Just because he helped me rescue you, doesn't mean he's an ally. Like the other desert-folk, he's not to be trusted… Stay away from him."

Startled by his words, she knew who he was talking about.

Gaara.

The boy who brought her to the village and shared her loneliness, and the first one who was not disturbed by her true nature. Just hours earlier, he stepped in to save her from the verbal onslaught from the two disgruntled genin. He was not like the others, she thought, He was different and he was kind. Appalled by her wolf's warning, she stood in silence – conflicted between her desire for his friendship and her blood-commitment to her guardian. She was not given an ideal choice, and she struggled to come to an answer as her words failed to reach out in time.

As she could feel herself push towards the winds, she grasped out to him. "Hanone, I…–!"

Before she could speak, Hanone leapt into the village streets below, disappearing from her view, although his chakra was loud and clear as it bounded towards the sands in his quest for the hunt. Broken emotionally from his confession, she stood upon the rooftop with a heavy decision weighted upon her shoulders as the winds blew past – her eyes blank while she gazed down upon the village of sand below. How could her father abandon his family? Was she truly becoming like him, after all – for abandoning Yama? Would she ever seek him out to get closure for his abandonment? Was she destined for hatred?

They were questions that were racing through her mind all at once without end.

That next morning, her team was patiently awaiting her arrival by the cliffs that guarded the entrance to the fertile crescent of the village of the sands. Standing idly by as the morning haze engulfed the village streets, Shinto could make out a silhouette approaching them – focusing his eyes on the shape. "Uh?" He muttered, his eyes feeling strained from the early morning sun. "Hey! Nomasaki! You made it!" Surprising him, he seen his absent teammate make her way towards them by the cliffside – her expression stone-faced and calm, as opposed to her usual meek and cheery nature. Could something possibly have changed within her? "Are you… okay?"

"Yeah," She nodded, giving a small smile. Her eyes appeared defeated. "I'm fine."

"Have you decided?"

Noticing their glances of concern and excitement on her, she examined their faces before her as she gathered herself to give an answer. After seeing the beaming face of Shinto and concerned pleading glance of Meiyumi, she knew what her answer would be. I must be strong - for them, she convinced herself, And I will be a shinobi different than my father. With a small smile on her pale face, she turned to them. "Yes," She nodded. "I'll be taking the Chunin Exams as a member of Team Hashira."

Cheerfully, Meiyumi clasped her hands together while Shinto brought in his teammates for a group rally – swinging his arms over his friends in a gesture of friendliness and excitement. Humbled by their friendship, Hashira nodded at their cheers.

"Congratulations," He said. "You three will be representing Sunagakure on these upcoming exams as rookies. I look forward to seeing you three succeed in Kumogakure."

"Right!"

And so their upcoming trials as shinobi of Suna began to fall into place...